Note to Self

By Andrew R. Duckworth

The man paraded the street
Like a lost erratic emu,
Capturing everyone’s attention
As if on the world’s largest stage.

I was struck by what was on his foot,
A shackle perhaps? Surely not!
No, this man was free! Free to be!
Free to boast for all to see!

But it was a shackle.
The man was shackled-
One foot to the other
And the man continued, unable to see.

And just as I was about to judge,
I realized the man was me.