Chains may rattle against the floor, but they cannot diminish my own inborn rationality,
Chains may rattle and even bruise the outside skin, yet it still fails to mark the soul internally,
Chains may rattle while the noise grows inward, still I remain unbroken, steady, and unseen
Chains may rattle, but my own mind will still stand untouched, a fortress yet invisible…
Across my body, blows may be felt with fury that I cannot even hide but I still meant to claim my dignity,
Across my body, blows may be felt until I bleed, yet they cannot stain my own choice,
Across my body, blows may be felt but never can I reach the thought I can hold sacred despite everything,
Across my body, blows may be felt, yet our spirit remains untouchable, still safe from within…
Human cells may tighten their grip in minutes, trying to crush my time into despair,
Human cells may tighten until the silence is heavy, until beyond comfort is gone,
Human cells may tighten but still they cannot decide the meaning I assign to every instance,
Human cells may tighten, yet my mind still roams into fields with no wall has seen…
Uncontrollable storms may rage until the body bends beneath from hunger and fatigue,
Uncontrollable storms may rage like fire consuming all of my value and titles,
Uncontrollable storms may rage but they cannot burn the one inner truth where my soul can remain,
Uncontrollable storms may rage, yet my spirit’s core stands, calm and undefeated…
Freedom still lives when I answer to cruelty with reason, instead of your own despair,
Freedom still lives in silence, even in refusal, it is part of of your inward peace,
Freedom still lives because nothing outside of you has power over what I decide within,
I know freedom still lives, and that is the strength no hand can take away…
• Chains may rattle, still my mind remains
• Blows fall, but that choice holds
• Cells close, thought roams
• Storms may rage, spirit stands
• Freedom still lives inside us, stand with your will
