The orange light dances

upon the leaves

the red flaring with more life

More colors erupt

A sudden gust of wind

shatters the dancing light

and lifts the branching fingers

high into the air

Leaves float and then break

off

hands of red veins

floating on invisible currents

carrying them

up

up

and

over

the tall iron gate

The cold metal surface

gazes back at me

I feel a cold finger

race down my spine

As I feel a rush of fear

and a patch of longing

If only I could escape

my cage