REST
by Jay Juno
to break away
from this tangling rut—
I need to escape—
from these chains
keeping me hostage—
I need to leave—
to get away
from this choking hold
I need to fly away—
because these manacles hold me,
bind me,
suffocate me,
keep me down, down, down—
and I remain a prisoner—
because fear keeps me
from reaching through the bars
and touching that light
If I could have one wish,
I would wish for freedom
from doubt—
from that suffocating fear
that stills my breath,
and keeps me dear.
Jay Juno is a freshman pursuing a dual major in English and Art with a minor in Creative Writing. They have been writing since before kindergarten, writing their first poetry in grade school. For Jay, writing is not only a way of coping with the loss of their mother and father—it is the way forward to a bright tomorrow.