Genie in a bottle

Our body is our bottle
our vessel for our spirit
in essence it is our mask
a casket ready made to die
unrubbed so often
unloved dark corners
unpolished and grimy
unfaced we fear to shine

Our genie our soul
we leave it undisturbed
quietly we tip toe by
life to death gone
we spend a life
a life of avoidance
slumbering numb
frozen remote unfeeling

WHY

We are afraid
to see
the uncorked us
set free
our bottle hides
the vulnerable us inside
soft exposed scared
truth and sensitivity
tremulous
we retreat
into comfort
engagement
with self with all
a challenge
a step too far
without our bottle
where would we be

BUT

Imagine that
the freedom
no pressure
welling inside
our spirit soaring
so large so full
real and true
our hopes
and dream
our essence
fulfilled