Steps Toward Freedom Poem by Eric Cockrell

on the first step towards freedom
i found i had to name my chains...
and looking closely, found they were
all of my making... they carried
my name... they even smelled
like me...

on the second step towards freedom
i took ownership of the prison
that i'd created for myself....

on the third step, i took out my knife,
and killed the man in the mirror.

on the fourth step i let go
of everything i thought i had to have,
took a deep breath, spread my wings,
and flew naked into the night!