FREEDOM TO BE

I spoke.
You bade me be silent .
I moved.
You stilled my movement.

I spoke.
You distorted my words into thousand fragments,
until scattered by the wind
they became meaningless utterances.

I acted.
You made my actions a mockery
of myself, of others.
I saw.
But you made what I saw so utterly despicable ,
that I wanted to see no more.

But I dream...
And in the secret recesses of my dreams,
I soar high, free and full of ecstasy,
No censurous eyes still my movements,
No cruel words taunt my joys,
As I rejoice in my dreams
and delight in the only haven that I can seek
this is all I ask of you.
Intrude not - atleast in my dreams .

- Srividya Srinivasan
1992