I have been a prison warden. 

Locked up my soul, my heart, my very essence,

Banished my voice from speaking,

My soul from ever yearning

I have broken my own heart,

Ridiculed my gut,

Poured water over my soul’s fire,

Hanged my spirit to wither away

I have lost so much of myself,

Tortured the life out of me,

Hoping to fit in,

Yet, the pasture was always green inside

Now my heart bleeds,

My soul is wounded,

My spirit is exhausted,

And my mind troubled

It is forgiveness I now seek,

From my heart for mistrusting it,

For the many times I have ignored its cries,

And the many more I have bled it

Forgive me my soul,

For all the ridicule,

For never allowing you to shine,

For denying the universe inside you

Forgive me my body,

My beautiful garden,

For turning against you,

For sacrificing you to please others

I break all chains,

Take down the walls,

And let go of my pain,

It is no longer my prison,

But a garden