The Wall

When I found that I was broken

I could not bear the pain
I was tired of the ache
And tired of the shame
So many things were thrown at me
So much hurt and so much blame
That when I built for me a shelter
Safety was my only aim

My mother hears me tremble

And calls over my walls

Her voice earnestly pleads me

Down long and empty halls

But my fortress is now massive

Each stone a bitter recall

Of the pain that seems to last
And never fade at all

Many came to visit

When my wall had just begun

They tried to help me break it

But I did not want that done

So for every brick they tore out

Each and every stone

Another would replace it

And soon I was alone

When the walls had reached the sky

And the sun could not see inside

I found for me a corner

And in it I cried

I found a book of stories

And there inside I hid

I forged from it a friend for me

And it joined in all I did

And when again my mother

Called me from the day

I was content not to listen

And begged her go away

I made for me a family 

And built for me a place

'Til soon the walls that smothered me 

Felt like a sweet embrace

My mother grew tired

Of calling out to me

Her voice was growing fainter

And then she left me be

But deep within the shadows
Where I knew no one should be
I hear a lonely wimper
A heartless bitter plea

Someone else was trapped here
Somebody just like me
How could I ignore them,
I simply couldn't flee

I had to find them safety
I had to bring the light
But how can I protect them
In this never-ending night

These walls we built ourselves
protect us from our plight
And often times the outside
Is much more difficult to fight

She too had a book of stories
Quite similar to mine
And the friends that we had built ourselves
Got along just fine

They wished us to be happy
At the cost of their own lives
So they pushed and pulled us
To move closer to the light

And yet we resisted
Do we really want to leave?
We were hiding from something
Far more painful to receive

After quite a bit of prodding
And pushing us along
We started on our journey
And though it was quite long
We reached the wall together
For together we are strong

We're tearing down the wall
piece by painful piece
But we've built it far too high
To remove in just a week

Our friends look on and cheer us
From both inside and out
For there are others outside the wall
That continue to shout

And if one must leave us
To demolish their own wall
Another one will take their place
And continue with their call

They will not stop their screaming
They will not cease their cry
Until they see our faces
And we look them in the eye

And the stories still are there
They will always comfort me
But no longer can I hide inside
They want me to be free