I duck and I dive,

swing my arms wide

try and fly,

but you took my wings,

left lead-heavy arms,

cuffed to this box of mine.

I bend myself backwards

snap my spine,

crunch it down into a space you allow me to occupy,

I cower inside -

inside this box of mine.

You send in your spikes,

coat even this place in your plague,

make me change,

puncturing skin,

leave me to cry,

bleeding in this box of mine.

I'm a contortionist for you,

but there's nothing in it

leaves me destitute,

relying on you,

inside this box of mine.

Need to Houdini, escape

like a bird out a cage,

I know it's cliché.

need the pieces of me you took away,

reconstruct them in a new way,

make me better, make me brave,

so next time I won't stay in this box of mine.