Face Behind Bars by Bogdan Dragos

The close up of a woman's face where only her orange eyes are showing and her black hair is falling on her face while she covers her remaining face with the palms of her hands
Image Source: Canva

her hair made her face

look like

it was always

behind bars

or trapped

in barbed wire

Nothing could get

through those

thin bars

but the mouth

of the bottle

as it joined hers

strands of

hair would get

inside her mouth

and between her lips

and into the bottle

and she

wouldn’t care one bit

“If I were a bird,” she

said. “I’d never

sing. I’d just

fly and fly

and fly around the world.

Around and

around until

I’d get hungry

and thirsty

and I wouldn’t eat

or drink. No,

I’d keep on

flying and flying until

I’d drop dead into

some ocean

somewhere. That would

be a life worth

living.

Ah, but I’m not a

bird.

The being that I am

can only imagine what

it’s like to be one

while drinking

herself into the

ultimate fantasy. Here

I go.”

The mouth of

the bottle

passed again

through the bars

to join hers

heaven is not reached

by steps

but by gulps

She was

closer now

-BOGDAN DRAGOS

Bogdan Dragos supervises casinos for a gambling company, working twelve-hour shifts locked in a dark office full of TV monitors. There he mostly daydreams and writes poems and stories. He also manages a poetry blog Daydreaming as a profession.

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17 Comments Add yours

  1. Terveen Gill says:

    Bogdan portrays the main character with simplicity and conviction. One physical description adds to the depth of the woman’s withdrawn nature and her addiction to alcohol. It seems only a bottle is allowed to get close to her, and through this state of perpetual intoxication, she hopes to find the ultimate state of relief. An escape that can never end well. Some wings can only transport one to death. Dark and troubling.
    Congratulations Bogdan!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you!
      “Some wings can only transport one to death” — Wow! You said it :))

      ଘ( ˊωˋ )ଓ

      Liked by 1 person

  2. robertcday says:

    Kinda makes me wonder what would happen if I planted birdseed in the back garden. What kinds of birds would grow?

    Liked by 2 people

    1. (•ө•) Lovely ones, obviously :)))

      Liked by 1 person

  3. enjoyed this~ Kunjal

    Liked by 2 people

    1. ʕっ• ᴥ • ʔっ Thank you very much!

      Like

  4. I hope she is able to make the necessary gulps to reach the Pearly Gates……

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Something tells me she already did…

      ◝(^ᗜ^)◜

      Like

  5. Cassa Bassa says:

    It’s brilliant write!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Oh, thank you so much! (´・ᴗ・`)

      Like

  6. butungislayp says:

    The image of hair covering the face as being behind bars or barbed wires got me. Another tearing the core kind of write, Bogdan. Well done 💜

    Liked by 2 people

    1. (´∩。• ᵕ •。∩`) Thank you very, very much for checking it out!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. butungislayp says:

        My pleasure 💜

        Liked by 1 person

  7. jonicaggiano says:

    Boy there are a lot of very sad, depressed and other folks that just can’t see their way towards trying to get help. She is once scary looking woman. Drinking her way to death is one way she can do it. People do it every day. Nicely done my friend. I really liked the description of her hair and how you used it to make a good point. Blessings my friend, Joni

    Liked by 2 people

    1. (ゝ◡・)ノ Thank you very much, Joni!

      Yeah, the world is unfortunately full of people who drink themselves into other worlds and rarely come back. I like to believe those are people with a story to tell (or many stories to tell). And often it takes just one ear willing to listen, and that’s enough to change their lives.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. jonicaggiano says:

        I believe you are right they generally have tragic stories to tell. It would be wonderful if a sympathetic ear would be enough to stop addiction but it is a medical condition. You have a good heart and a hopeful soul. I like your thoughts better than mine. You must see a lot of addiction in your job. I have watched too many tv shows my friend. I have lots of interesting thoughts about the role you play behind that wall of glass. I should write a story about it. Haha big hugs, Joni

        Liked by 2 people

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