THE KEY ON THE INSIDE

I WANTED TO BE LIKE YOU
DOING THE THINGS YOU DO
YOUR ACTIONS IV’E KEPT A SECRET 
THROUGH MY TEENAGE YEARS, 
NEVER UNDERSTANDING YOUR PAIN,
AND SILENT TEARS.

YOU LOOKED SO HAPPY 
AFTER TAKING THOSE COLORFUL PILLS, 
IT SEEMED LIKE YOU CAN TOUCH THE STARS 
WHILE STANDING STILL.

MY FAVORITE COLOR WAS BLUE,
YOU WERE MY IDOL, AND MY INSPIRATION,
AND I WERE DETERMINED 
TO BE LIKE YOU.

NOW HERE I AM,
A SLAVE OF MY DESIRES,
HELPLESS AND HOPELESS, 
LIKE DRY WOOD TOSSED INTO THE FIRE.

THANK YOU FOR THE HANDCUFFS 
LEFT BEHIND,
AS A TOKEN OF YOUR LOVE FOR ME,
BUT I RATHER GO THROUGH LIFE 
WITH MY HANDS SHACKLED 
AS I SWALLOW THE KEY.

WILFORD BARKER.