Prison or Palace

Would you have this place be a cell

 caged and trapped against our will

Husks pacing our 20 x 20  pen,

running the ruts of our wheels in the floor, or

would you have it be a palace,

food served on platters of plastic

with attendees serving our every need, 

or a retreat center, a sanctuary from a dizzying world.

Maybe a classroom where each day teachers gift us to learn

new skills and lessons to live in a tough world.

Beware the ossification of roles, who exactly is the teacher

and who is the taught. 

We all have gifts to share.

Perhaps it is simply a community of burgeoning friendships and relationships 

which like azaleas are blossoming in their own time. 

All here to help each other grow, become their colorful, fragrant selves.

We have no true task besides getting well here in this hospital. 

We are all here to heal the primary division 

and see things as they truly are 

prison or palace.