Cast Iron Prison
by Odin Roark

A cartoon mouse knows of its power
A child knows its weight
The cast-iron skillet knows it’s impervious
But beyond such masquerading realities
Adults often adopt such fantasy as metaphor
Wallowing in its emblematic captivity

Yet

Some understand
Survival transcends acquiescence
And like all endurance
Awareness dictates
It’s not easy avoiding being chased
Not easy stepping through
Iteration’s next threshold
Where new knows not old

And the fortunate comprehend

Those who accept themselves as
Impervious atoms of existence
Destined like history’s cast-iron skillet
To never vanish
But merely to evolve into new forms
Realize ignoring perpetuity
Is to stay a prisoner

Of course

There will always be others
Forever replaying their personal cartoon
Unaware the universe
Eventually tires
Of the same ol’
And does what it does best…