My mind is a cage:
Within these four walls,
A war I wage.
It tells me that I am worthless,
That far from me is goodness;
Absent from my life
Is passion and direction,
The missing traits form a large collection.

I look out the window and see away,
Where others have achieved while here I stay.
If only I could leave, if only I could leave -
From myself, this undesirable place
I would destroy and cleave.

Pacing the floor and marking the border,
Here are my failures
In an unforgettable order.
So cleverly designed this prison cell,
For the door remains open -
Yet here I dwell.

"Let me out! Let me out!",
I scream at my mind
With no discernible clout.
Rattle the bars, shake my fist;
How I try to free myself
Forms a never-ending list.

How long shall I remain?
The answer cannot be attained.
For one thing I know,
No matter my dreams, hopes, or loves,
I will convince myself "No":
My mind is a cage.