I never had the naïve desire
To leave the shade of the willow,
Where wind rarely gusts and leaves billow,
Nestled among the branches — circumstances out of my control.
Having leapt from the boughs of the sallow,
As fledglings are wont to do,
I have landed down by waters broad and shallow,
And now face a different metaphor: sink or swim.
They stole away the life preservers,
They took the boats and ropes,
Yet snidely deride us when we lack the means to strive for dreams or hopes?
I never had the arrogant desire,
To worlds unknown, far beyond the comfort of my home.
I bear this burden of choice,
Nestled in another framework — different setting, selfsame tone.
I cling to a sense of jurisdiction:
That I'm the ruler of this kingdom.
But with every decree there is a fine degree of imprecision,
And that cuts me to my bone.
A false sense of freedom is bound to this.
Though I'd rather say I'm independent,
Every independence of another makes me ache,
And it takes, and it takes, and it takes.
I am burdened with too much,
So with every ache I let it take.
I let my will be spent and spent,