Charlotte Perkins Gilman (Stetson)

Locked Inside

She beats upon her bolted door,
  With faint weak hands;
Drearily walks the narrow floor;
Sullenly sits, blank walls before;
 Despairing stands.

Life calls her, Duty, Pleasure, Gain–
 Her dreams respond;
But the blank daylights wax and wane,
Dull peace, sharp agony, slow pain–
 No hope beyond.

Till she comes a thought! She lifts her head,
 The world grows wide!
A voice–as if clear words were said–
"Your door, O long imprisonéd,
 Is locked inside!"