Cardboard Castles
The walls we build to keep us safe
It was a strange thing, to fall into his eyes.
A strange thing indeed to wander through the maze of wishes and lies
Hidden deep within.
The little daydreams, and personal barricades.
Redoubts and hard points of him,
All the defences he’d learned to make.
She felt as though she fell forever.
Watching his walls buckle but never break.
Through a hellfire of violent storms and pleasant weather.
Deep within, however,
A simple cardboard wall before her reared.
Raised against all he feared.
Brown or tan or muted white,
A set of walls against the night.
With lifted fist she tried to knock
Searched that wall for fleeting sight.
Of whatever lay within.
She knew him well, had known him long.
Yet never did he share his secret song.
There was always something there.
Something in the way.
A place of refuge some might say.
A place of torment without the light of day.
He was safely kept within,
The little piece of him he never shared.
Full of hope and joy unaired.
Because beyond those walls the world was cruel.
And yet within did not he starve for lack of fuel?
Sitting down against the gate,
Closed tight against a world of hate,
She spoke to him behind his wall.
Of life and joy and tears and rain,
Of all the little things she wished to share.
Looking up she saw his face,
The boy that hid within.
His frightened face and narrowed eyes
That tried to find her hidden lies.
But speak she did until, at last,
His own words escaped his lips.
And their secret truths between them passed.
Standing tall she made a promise.
If only he would raise his brown portcullis.
The bridge came down and gate went up.
And the boy she’d come to know now stood exposed.
With hooded eyes he waited there,
Blinking in the free air.
So, in turn she kept her word,
Opening her own locked fast gates,
To show the girl she hid within,
Safe behind her cardboard walls,
He smiled then to she her there.
Wind of truth blowing through her hair.
At the sight she smiled too,
For a frightened boy she finally knew.
About the Creator
Alexander McEvoy
Writing has been a hobby of mine for years, so I'm just thrilled to be here! As for me, I love writing, dogs, and travel (only 1 continent left! Australia-.-)
I hope you enjoy what you read and I can't wait to see your creations :)
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Masterful proofreading
Zero grammar & spelling mistakes
Comments (14)
This is really lovely. I did initially misread "Watching his walls buckle but never break" and thought it said "balls" 😮
This is so sweet and enjoyable to read. I was sure I was subscribed to you but apparently not, but I am now!!! Looking forward to more
Lovely poetic story… “Wind of truth blowing through her hair.” What the world needs.
Just beautiful - Tone is so gentle and the message of vulnerability and acceptance just perfect 🤍
I'm at a loss of words, this was really beautiful and so heartfelt! Great work Alex!!
Awe that is beautiful! Our hidden children within us deserve to meet others we trust! Lovely!
This is wonderfully written.
The most attractive thing a man can do is show me his vulnerable side. A man who is not afraid to show he is scared or cry his heart out. I loved both your poem and your sibling's art!
A wonderful poem with a great message. I also loved the drawing. Well done!
Lovely descriptions
Great work! 💖
Always read thru twice and on the second round I really made the connections. Subtle and aching but hopeful; just right.
A real narrative in the poetry... Well done!
Nice Piece ♥️💯✌️📝😉