Golden Cage

Her voice was like rain in the mountains, A broken hush, calm, yet frightened. He sat across the shadowed room, Staring as if to drag her to her doom.

She sang as nights grew long and cold, With lyrics bought and moments sold. Her soul was tethered to no song, And all she whispered was, "Is this where I belong?"

She wept backstage,

Transported, before she was trapped in this golden cage.

Through halls of chrome and open mics, In dim cafés and fairy lights.

He came in a suit too clean,

Promising to revive her dream. "You've got the voice to steal the sky

Trust me, and you will fly high."

At first it sparkled, studio haze,

Red carpets, MVs, and billboard praise.

But soon enough, sweet turned to sour,

It broke something in her ever hour.

Her songs climbed charts, her heart sank low,

The world cheered, but she felt alone.

"Come on, buckle up now,"

He said in a voice too low.

She was singing in a voice unknown.

A song that was never her own.

Then it struck her, her voice was not for sale;

It was home, it was fire, even if she failed.

A deep breath, and it was clear,

Her voice had never disappeared.

He glared at her, but the crowd cheered,

She closed her eyes... and flew without fear

~ Lauris