a stamp
long forgotten
at the back
of the drawer
yellowed with age
bereft of purpose

a porpoise
in an aquarium
dreaming of the sea
grown complacent
ramming its snout
repeatedly
into the glass
taking small pleasure
from children
screaming in fright

a poet
trapped inside
a carnival
house of mirrors
unable to accept
it is
his own mind
misreflecting
myopic starbursts
scribbling frantically
saying nothing
yet feeling
profound
in inadequacy