"Boxes"

big suburban boxes
standing square row on row  
what goes on inside each
an outsider can't know

their windows look only
at the yards front and back 
so the neighbor beside
is a view that they lack

harsh words fly inside oft
as they scream and they shout
but the walls muffle sound
and no hint makes it out

the small child that's inside
never comes out to play
all her bruises and burns
never see light of day

she's too young yet for school
no one sees how she grows
whether she lives or dies
there's nobody to know

all children in boxes
they've no power or rights
and no hope of rescue
when they cry in the night

c. 2009, B. Riley