My Chains | Teen Ink

My Chains

August 11, 2014
By LegendInTheMaking GOLD, Oswego,
LegendInTheMaking GOLD, Oswego,
12 articles 0 photos 10 comments

I am bound,
By my wrists and feet.
My chains hold me
So I can’t leave.
I’ve carried these chains
Since I was a child.
Tied to my post,
While others run wild.

I am stuck,
Like a stick in mud.
My shackles tight,
So I can’t budge.
These chains follow me,
Everywhere I go.
Five feet back,
Any closer? No.

I weep,
I cry,
I kick,
And scream.
But my chains,
Won’t let go of me.

What is life,
Under restriction?
Held back,
Their conviction.
“It’s too dangerous”,
They say.
“How about just
One more day?”

I grin,
Ear to ear.
My day of freedom,
Is finally near.
I hold out my wrists,
And stick out my feet.
But they shake their heads,
“Another week.”

My chains bind me,
But longer than said.
A year passed,
My hope is dead.
Head in hands,
I don’t understand.

“I waited a day,
I waited a week!
I waited a year,
Set me free!”
My chains, my chains,
They have held me too long.
Was it something I did?
What went wrong?

They stared at me,
Faces blank.
They had nothing,
Nothing to say.
“Your chains are for you,
For your greater good.
It’s unfortunate that,
You haven’t understood.”

My chains imprison me,
Hold me captive.
How is this good?
How could this happen?
They don’t know what its like,
To be held ever so tight.

I am on a leash,
To keep me in line.
I am a pet,
Nothing is mine.
Cuts on my wrists,
From the burn of the ropes.
My fetters don’t move,
Nothing left to do.

I look down on life,
What’s it worth?
When all you have is pain,
It’s a hellish earth.
My heart has sunk,
I can’t even stand.
My chains scar me,
No longer a man.

My hands shake,
As I hold my chain.
Rage boils inside me,
This is insane!
The world is better than this!
It will be finished!

Enough is enough!
I roar so loud.
I shatter my chains,
They crash to the ground!
I am human,
Not meant to be tied.
This is over!
I bid you goodbye!

They just smile,
Hands over their heart.
“You see,
This is the best part.
You’ve broken free,
Grown up.
Be who you’re meant to be,
And never give up.”

Bewildered I stare,
“Was this on purpose?
Do you actually care?”
My heart ached,
But not with grief.
Joy danced beyond belief.

I’m free!
It was all a test.
I had to fight,
To earn the best.
My chains gave me freedom,
In the form of wisdom.
I learned that I am able,
To overcome.

My chains held me back,
From the bad in the life.
My chains protected me,
From society’s strife.
My chains saved me,
From doubting myself.
My chains gave me,
Never-ending wealth.

My wealth came in the forms of
Confidence,
Strength,
Love,
And Glee.
Now my chains embrace me.


The author's comments:
This poem is based on the concept of how a parent teaches their child. It may not seem fair, but it's all with good intentions.

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This article has 2 comments.


on Jul. 31 2015 at 12:18 am
LegendInTheMaking GOLD, Oswego,
12 articles 0 photos 10 comments
Thank you very much!!

on Feb. 28 2015 at 2:38 pm
OurVoices PLATINUM, Merrimac, Massachusetts
31 articles 0 photos 34 comments

Favorite Quote:
"It takes courage to grow up and turn out to be who you really are" - e.e. cummings

This was such a good poem, i thought when i started it that it was going to end a certain way bu then you surprised me and the ending is positive!, i really like this, great job!