Society told me that I should not feel the same for men as I should for women

Society told me that I should always be covered when leaving my home

Society told me that I should allow someone to strike me whilst having no intention to strike back

 

My mother told me that I should not have friends or lovers if I do not benefit from them

My mother told me that  I should take heed of her wisdom without question. 

 

My mind told me that I should do what pleases me.

 

And so I asked myself:  "What pleases me?" 

Is it the embrace of a cherished friend?

The kiss of a lover?

The silence of the night?

The music of the world?

No, none of these things truly please me.

 

What is it then, that pleases me?

Freedom, I suppose.

The freedom to be who I wish to be.

To sing what I wish to sing.

To dance how I wish to dance

To love who I wish to love

 

So then, just what is "freedom"?

What is "Free"? And what does it mean to be free?

Perhaps it is having no inhibitions

No one to say I cannot

No one to say I am incapable

No one to say it is impossible

Maybe then, no one at all

Myself alone. Left to my own devices to do as I please.

No, these are but superficial definitions.

 

Free. What is "Free"?

Free is what we all wish to be, to have

Free is to do and say and be what we wish

uninhibited by the fear of judgment.

It is judgment then, that inhibits us.

Why is it I do not walk the streets unclothed?

Not because I am told I cannot

Not because I am self-conscious of my body

No, these are but superficial excuses

The truth, the fact, is that I wish not to be judged. 

I wish not to be made the object of laughter

Or to be forever remembered as the strange one

I desire only acceptance

 

How then can I be free?

What can I possible do to be myself?

The one thing no one has to know about

Something I can do in private or public with not a soul being the wiser.

I can write.

I can rhyme

I can question.

I can be who I wish to be.

And no one but those I choose will ever know

 

What is it to be free?

Just what is "Free"?

Freedom... is expression

Expression is art

Art is poetry

Poetry is writing

And writing... is Freedom.

And this... is why I write.