Fettered
John G. Young, M.D.
He first came to me
disheveled and distraught;
he wanted to be well
so I soon forgot
"I want
the advantage he sought
by remaining the same,
the excuse he brought
for still being lame.
"to stop hurting
The memories were gone
of dangers addressed
with childhood armor
then soon repressed.
"but I'm afraid
He was stuck in the past
by the choices of a child
when reality merged
with fantasies wild.
"of change.
He feared going forward,
why, he couldn't express.
No one could guess
what he couldn't confess.
"How can I
His neurosis persisted,
very scared it seems
of ghosts from the past
that roamed in his dreams.
"be different
Though he suffered, I'm sure
he chose to endure
rather than face in their place
the dragons of yore.
"yet still
Then soon I could see,
rather than leaving his fetter,
what he wanted from me,
was having it better.
"be the same."