at first we searched
for caves
to hide
from nature’s
creatures and her temper
we played outside
in the daytime
and when the sun
turned its back on us
we hid inside
by the fire
to dream
we dreamed of walls
and woke up one morning
knowing that we
could make caves
whenever we want
instead of relying
on the sympathy of mountains
or the kindness of forests
the walls
were meant to swaddle us
so we can sleep
through nature’s unknown
and dream new things
but as our walls
grew bigger
we got arrogant
and one day
instead of building walls
around ourselves
we started building walls
around nature too
the cave grew bigger
and nature smaller
then this big cave
with everyone in it
became too loud
we could no longer sleep
so we built more walls
this time
around each other
we made smaller caves
one person long
one person wide
and we hung photos
of ourselves
on the walls
in case someone visits
but no one visits
now we lie awake
at night
in our cave for one
nothing more
than cavemen
whose only fire
is our yearning
to sleep
outside