The Prisoners Poem by Bryan Sefton

He chipped and chipped and so revealed
The image that the stone concealed
My infant mind was amazed to see
The beauty of the thing set free
That had lain inside for many an age
A prisoner in its sandstone cage
He'd pointed to the the sandstone block
And told me 'look! A little pup
He looks so lost and all alone
But all I saw was uncut stone
'He's seen you now, his eyes are wide
His tail is wagging side to side
Reach out and feel him lick your hand
Feel it. Feel it through the sand
Close your eyes, run your hand along'
And I thought I felt the puppies tongue

'Be still young fellow, there, Be still
I'll have you out of there, I will'
And so, with skill of patience born
He cut around the puppies from
First chipping here, then chipping there
He carefully cut away the lair
Till slowly there materialised
The high cocked ear, the eager eyes
Then finally it sat and stared
Awaiting of its masters word
It seemed to quiver in its glee
And eagerness to play with me
As if, with just a finger snap
It would be up and on my lap
I looked at the debris of its lair
Cursing the monster who had put him there

I looked at him stood by the door
And asked him 'are there any more? '
He looked around the many blocks
Of stone and said 'there's something locked
Inside of every single one
Hidden away behind the stone
He walked up to a larger piece
Saying 'here's an Angel on her knees'
His hand ran over her rough stone cage
And in the feeling of it gauged
Exactly where she knelt and so
Knew precisely where in to go
He smiled and went to make some tea
And left there in the heart of me
Pity for the beings captured there
And an ache for captives everywhere