Subway Karma: Dream Kaleidoscope

Dream Kaleidoscope
The air is sharp, the ground firm
I’d ask your mind
but you’d have to turn
and look me in the eye
You look away
You hear me, but don’t
want to know what I’m saying
What are you so afraid of?
You were right, they were wrong,
you weak, they strong,
you a prisoner, they belong
The prison is your mind
Only you hold the key
To unlock is clear
if you know where to look,
the word written, go buy the book
But you’d rather be your own master and slave,
better keep to yourself than let yourself be saved
better tighten your fist than give it all away;
every penny, every hope
in your dream kaleidoscope,
painted on your wall, your own design
you refuse to leave behind
I watch you suffer
I’d hand you my key,
but mine is mine,
it won’t open your door
My glasses won’t help you see,
just make everything blurry
You look at me with angry eyes,
fear mirrored, empty as air
I watch and listen, try not to guide
(only a distraction) The quieter I am,
the more you hear
Subway Karma is a collection of poems by Hong
