Monday, April 4, 2011

But You Still Have a Choice

Let the earth 
hug you tight.
Don't swim, 
don't fly.

You'd rather be safe
than drown
or crash down 
upon unforgiving ground.

Don't crawl, don't walk,
don't skip, don't jump;
don't meet resistance.
Stay safe.

Let her strangle you
in her overbearing embrace,
while being rooted to 
where you are.

Let your chest grow tight,
tight till you can't breathe
and choke to your death.
But you still have a choice.

14 comments:

  1. conjures up many images and thoughts about how we do or don't care about our life

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  2. Choking the life right out of you...

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  3. Choices can be very difficult - especially when weighed against safety. You expressed desire and reluctance so well here.

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  4. Your words are almost frightening in the images that they evoke. A very powerful, expressive piece.

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  5. madhumakhi,

    I do hope that you can have the freedom of choice.
    Very worrying words..

    Eileen

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  6. Thank you all for commenting.
    @ Eileen: Please don't worry. I have the freedom of choice. It's just that i wrote this poem using such words so that the effect would be profound. I wanted to feel the constriction that comes with restricting yourself.

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  7. what a grace.
    love the imagery.

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  8. I LIKED THE FEEL OF THIS POETRY.
    NICELY WRITTEN.

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  9. The constriction is very tangible in your poem! I am glad to read that this is not something you have experienced.

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  10. Sometimes one has to step a bit out of one's comfort zone rather than stay completely 'safe,' I think. Safety can be quite a prison if carried to extreme. Your last stanza literally took my breath away.

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  11. Perfect!! Goodness is something chosen...Exercising freedom of choice allow us to stand on earth with dignity. I like that style :)

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  12. Wowzers, I hope that person escapes the constraints being imposed on him or her. Love the last line reminding - there is choice.

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  13. Come what may one's choice is a birthright. Rightly said Madhu!

    Hank

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