A caged bird I am, segregated all alone.
Emancipation, yes mine; is far at the horizon.
Seed of passion protruded out of the shrouded cocoon.
Volition is the aim, desired perennially to attune.
Sent a letter, never opened;
heard my cries for equality; never responded;
conveyed my endearing feelings, were valued worthless;
abused my docile innocence and never regretted.
Was treated as a mere rook or pawn,
like a blitz of chess, played a round,
sent SOS, left me out, dead at sea,
whispered for par, rebuked me "Will never be free!"
Beguiled my spirit by deceit and imminence;
lured me in, locked my innocence;
parity for me is always in sabotage;
I am in the midst of mirage.
Conscientious will is immutably blurred.
For them, I am merely a caged bird!
S M Ilyas, an engineer from the
University of Texas at Austin, resides in Chittagong