The prisoner enters the prison.

He does not know why he is going to prison;

he does not question it.

The entrance door is wide open;

there are no guards.

He thinks

the guards are surely somewhere watching

the entrance and the prisoners.

The prison is very crowded.

Everyone is trying to survive

and not upset the guards.

The prisoner has a good heart

and is helpful to others

in the prison.

The prisoner tries to make the best he can with his situation.

One day …

The prisoner, during a walk around the prison

has a new awareness.

He notices many prison cells with bars.

He notices many prisoners busy in their cells,

their cell door open.

The prisoner still does not see any prison guards.

He walks out of the prison and wanders in the street.

After a while

 loud bells signal

it is time to go back to his cell.

Something inside the prisoner’s head tells him:

“Be a good model and go back to your cell,

do not make the guards upset.”

He walks back into the prison.

There are no signs of guards at the prison entrance.

He goes back to his cell.

He notices that everyone is in their prison cell.

The doors are still open.

He still does not see any prison guards.

He gets the courage to ask

where are the prison guards?

A faint voice says,

“Look in the mirror.”

Copyright . 2010 by Shervin Hojat