the cage's door is open.
the bars, which have long kept me captive,
suddenly bursts into pieces upon the dirt.
hesitantly, i lurch forward, my eyes
gazing at the tents surrounding me.
my paw stretches out,
and though no one is here to stop me,
i go no farther.

fear paralyzes me to my spot.
what might happen if i flee?
who will feed me?
where will i sleep?
these questions float in my mind,
and i mull on them extensively.

i have long wished for this.
every waking moment i'm dragged from this cage
and into those colorful tents to perform,
i fantasize about ripping away from my captors,
the men who spin me around
and make me play for those audiences,
spiting them for their behavior.

i cannot hesitate, i realize.
i must go. my limbs argue with my wish,
and despite my effort, they move lethargically.
past the tents, large metal beasts sit latent,
unmoving and silent. purring no longer.
i stroll past these massive sentinels,
prepared for them to strike me and push me back,
but i experience no obstacle. i simply go on,
and it is so liberating, i think, but also captivating.
both, it seems, exist at once, fighting for dominance within my mind,
but neither make me look back when i pass through the leaves,
on my own for the first time in my life.
i wonder how i'll fare.