#WQWWC #31: Freedom

What freedom! As we shout with glee. Free at last! Free to flee from threat. We were with self-doubt beset. Freedom to fight on other people’s plight. Freedom to dream about things that make us gleam. Freedom to travel and win our own battle. Freedom to wander when we’re feeling some anger.

Oh what freedom! Freedom to be with each other, no matter what. Come rain or high waters, we are together. Freedom to love so we can coo like doves. Freedom to do what we want and to be where we want to be. To swim, to dance, to read a book and to have a nice cup of tea. Freedom is wonderful, indeed!

Woe is us for working too hard

Wandering like hapless harlots

Let’s cry away from the barnyard

People hear our grief as we strut

Curse our weakness for blood and tears

The chimney was thrown by the blast

We’re working like slaves all these years

We deserve freedom at long last

The sky is blue, such a great day

Wind blows from the East as we run

And in unison we all neigh

Sun is behind us and we’ve won

What price freedom, we’re all asking

Free to groom each other and play

Free to nap and spend time haying

freedom to dream
about things that make me gleam
freedom to love
so I can coo like a dove
freedom to travel
and win my own battle
freedom to write
to make my day bright
freedom to fight
on other people’s plight
freedom to wander
when I’m feeling some anger
freedom to make friends
so I can be busy at the weekends
freedom to be alone
when I feel like a moan

Locked
Birdcage
Cannot breathe
Like in a crate
When there’s no freedom to say or do things
Even though the cage is silver or gold
Like a coffin
No freedom
Can’t move
Closed*

(c) ladyleemanila

* Tetractys

A pinch of purpose

For the absolute truth

Flexible as to person to person

Freedom to choose in a perfect circle

Fortitude or bravado in our youth

A pinch of purpose

A reason or reckoning that’s for certain

Sometimes denial is so smooth

Flexible as to person to person

Peace at last, don’t be nervous

Independent of our own truth

A pinch of purpose

Reality is sometimes a burden

Tell ourselves anything to soothe

Flexible as to person to person

Finding truth is such a circus

Truth versus the untruth

A pinch of purpose

Flexible as to person to person**

(c) ladyleemanila

** Villanelle

The 1960s in full swing
We bounce and dance this era brings
Svelte and with curls as we sing
Unknown behaviour as we fling
We temporize to delay time
Complex to be in our prime

A Heiligenschein we can see
And so happy we are all free
Inserting peace and love with glee
Rushing each day to go to quay
Tagging everyone who would come
And complete with guitars and drum

Freedom of speech one can do
Waiting for the coffee to brew
All the things we have to go through
Opportunity comes in blue
The 1960s is so cool
Spending our time in the pool***

(c) ladyleemanila

*** The LaCharta 

Lapu-Lapu was given a knife by the elder chieftain of the tribe. The knife was made from carved carabao and stag horn and said to have some supernatural powers. “Go, my son and defend our village from the Spanish conquistadors. We had our own beliefs from centuries ago, so we didn’t really need to be converted to Christianity.” And so Lapu-Lapu with his warriors waited for a battle to commence, ready to defend their independence, ready to die for it.

Meanwhile, Ferdinand Magellan’s fleet had entered the Philippines and sailed to the island of Mactan with a small force. Magellan was a converting Catholic, and because of this he lost sight of his main goal, which was to find the Spice Islands. As an intensely religious man, he began to believe that his journey was ordained by God.

Lapu-Lapu had rejected the Spanish conversion and Magellan decided to use force. Due to his profound convictions and the easiness of converting other chieftains in the Philippines, Magellan had no hesitations about entering battle with the rebellious Lapu-Lapu and his warriors. He severely underestimated the capabilities of his opponents.

Magellan’s flotilla were allegedly greeted on the shores with near 1,500 fighters. The combatants recognised Magellan as the captain. Lapu-Lapu descended on him with the knife given to him by the elder chieftain and killed Magellan. The other warriors fought with their bamboo spears and cutlasses in the rocky shores of the island. The rest of the Spanish retreated.

together we fight for freedom
together we overcome
we have to be free
colonisation from Spain
battle till the end
independence is worth it
for generations to come

enemies attack
warriors defend precious soil
battle of the sea
great ancestors of the land

courageous people
defending sea till the end
freedom protected
the fruit of their hardship

they fought for our freedom
learning the past through art
at the gallery

country’s history
as part of our heritage
should know them by heart

women took part, too
Philippine Revolution
our own heroines

acknowledging them
they struggle for our freedom
we’re so proud of them

I know why the caged bird sings by Maya Angelou

A free bird leaps on the back
Of the wind and floats downstream
Till the current ends and dips his wing
In the orange suns rays
And dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks down his narrow cage
Can seldom see through his bars of rage
His wings are clipped and his feet are tied
So he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill
Of things unknown but longed for still
And his tune is heard on the distant hill for
The caged bird sings of freedom.

The free bird thinks of another breeze
And the trade winds soft through
The sighing trees
And the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright
Lawn and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
His shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
His wings are clipped and his feet are tied
So he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings with
A fearful trill of things unknown
But longed for still and his
Tune is heard on the distant hill
For the caged bird sings of freedom.

by Maya Angelou

For: #WQWWC #31: Freedom – Marsha Ingrao – Always Write