to a dark stage. br I lie there awake in my prison bunk, br in the eye-catching silence br of prison night. br br I study the moon out my grilled window. br I figure this and that, br not out, just figure, figuring more, br the inner I go, through illimitable tunnels, br br roaring great, myself back back back. br br I lie still, listening to water drops br clink and pap pap pap br in the shower stall next to my cell. br br In that airy place we call the heart, br I move like a magician br in the colorful stage lights of my moods, br my bright dreams, and blue light br circles a tear on my cheek, and lips with her name. br br From flowers in my hands br her face appears. In cards br she is the queen. These are tricks br and I am the magician. br br Tomorrow morning I will crawl out of bed br knowing I cannot escape the chains br they've wrapped around me. br br I will crawl out of bed tomorrow, br as though I had stepped out of a box br on stage. It was no illusion, br when the sword plunged into the box, br I smiled at the crowd, br as it went deeper and deeper into my heart.