In the cage

In the cage
Sunday April 19, 2009

Hi Dr. Miller,

Your books have helped me enormously, in validating the things I’ve always known about train wreck that has been my life, thereby helping me deal with at least some of the shame and guilt. So thank you from the bottom of my heart for your expertise, your courage and your compassion.

I am a professional songwriter, currently living in Nashville, Tennessee, and soon movong to Washington State. I wanted you to have a copy of this lyric because it would never have been written had I not read your books.

Thank you again,

Jesse McRae

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ALONE IN THIS CAGE © 2009 Jesse McRae & David G. Smith

I’M A JACK OF ALL TRADES, I LEARNED AS A CHILD
TO LIVE A CHARADE, AND HIDE IN A SMILE
WITH THE SOUL OF A POET, AND A SADNESS I’LL DIE TO ERASE
I KEEP HOPING I’LL OUTGROW IT, BUT I’M STILL ALONE IN THIS CAGE

MY PAST IS A CEILING, FOUR WALLS AND A FLOOR
WITH BARS ON THE WINDOWS AND BARS ON THE DOOR
I LEFT MY CHILDHOOD BEHIND AT A PREMATURE AGE
IF IT WAS ALL FOR MY OWN GOOD, WHY AM I STILL ALONE IN THIS CAGE

EVERY NIGHT I DREAM THAT I AM BLIND
TOO FRIGHTENED OF THE DARKNESS TO OPEN MY EYES
I SHAKE LIKE A COWARD, JUMPING AT EVERY SOUND
LIKE A LONG TAILED CAT, IN A ROCKING CHAIR TOWN

THESE BARS ARE MY SHAME, HARDENED BY REGRET
THE SPACES BETWEEN, ARE MY POTENTIAL UNMET
I’VE BEEN A STRANGER TO MY LOVERS AND A DANGER TO MYSELF
AN INCONVENIENCE TO MY MOTHER, AN ENIGMA TO EVERYONE ELSE

AND EVERY NIGHT I DREAM THAT I AM BLIND
TOO FRIGHTENED OF THE DARKNESS TO OPEN MY EYES
I SHAKE LIKE A COWARD, JUMPING AT EVERY SOUND
LIKE A LONG TAILED CAT, IN A ROCKING CHAIR TOWN

EACH LIFE IS A STORY, EACH CHOICE AN INDELIBLE PAGE
I CAN SAY THAT I’M SORRY, FOR SO MANY CHOICES I’VE MADE
BUT I CAN’T CHANGE MY STORY, AND I’M STILL ALONE IN THIS CAGE

AM: Thank you for your letter and your sad but very moving poem.