Freedom of Choice

Some days I feel like a bird in a cage,

I can see the open blue sky from behind the bars.

If only I could break away,

I would stretch and twist my wings and fly high.

I would leave behind the chains of human delusions, 

The pains of appearances,

I would fly away from the pangs of social sanity into the arms of my freedom

The freedom that is my pride, 

Not my walk of shame.

The freedom that is my choice,

Not your opinion.

The freedom that is my wish

Not your norm.

The freedom that is my life.

I wish I could be a phoenix,

To burn down all the facade of perfection

And rise from the ashes and shine in the glory of my imperfection!

 

But I am not a bird, I am the youth, youth of India

The misunderstood, misjudged, often mistreated youth of India

I am the future of the nation, I am the dawn of tomorrow.

But I do not have the freedom of choice.

I do not have the right to choose my education,

The right to choose my career, to  write my own destiny,

The right to choose my partner, the choice of age and marriage.

Some days I do not even have the right to choose my attire.

I do not have the right to choose my thoughts.

The right to express my feelings and act upon them.

The constitution does not stop me, but you do.

You, society, you!

You are the dictator captivating me in a cage of inordinate reasoning, pulling me down every time into the well of dark, damp, ignorant bliss.

You, society, you!

You and your existential crisis is leading me to my identity crisis.

We, the young, wait for you to wake up society.

Wake up to the new day.

Wake up to the dawn of change.

Wake up to the day of acceptance.

You, society, you!

Wake up from the century long slumber of detrimental values and pernicious norms.

Let us breath, society, let us live.

Let me spread my wings and show my vigorous colors.

Hold my hand, society, let me show you the bright horizon above the clouds.

You, society, you!

Let me guide you to the new age of humble acceptance, and warm open arms.

Have the courage to let go of your fears.

You, my dear society, you!

Let me be free to choose my life!