My Cardboard Balcony

There's No Privacy by Belinda Roddie There's no privacy on the railroad tracks, nor in the bathroom stall where you can hide away from all the soldiers wearing masks that hide extra emotions. You defied dictators once, but now a king casts you to the dirt with your secrets all exposed. Unless you decide the best thing to do is seal yourself in a cabin and close all doors to the outside world, you cannot escape from the watchful eyes of the throne. They will cut you down - for your name, your lot, your love and lust, once locked with bolts of bone. Remember when your eyes melt from a screen: You can't be imperfect now, guaranteed.

The oil smelled sweet from the lantern deep in the caverns where miners had died. I drew up a cloak and breathed in all the smoke and held tight to your arm while you cried. We followed the light on a sinister night to a place where an exit was sure. Then my fingers did claw at a gap in the rocks so the sunlight would gingerly pour.