i know maya’s cage
how one move toward the
latch rattles the rails,
too stiff to bend for
the soloist. but
long rusted iron
can’t stop the breath of
life song building strength
and determined to
live beyond the walls
built to contain the
shame that never be-
longed to her. the bird
watched and saw all the
lies. but she listened,
too, to the One who
promised to quench her
thirst and whetted her
throat and opened the
door wide so she could
sing.
