The evening lights are bright, 

The car has come to a stop,

The colors are different this time,

Shades of orange, white and green,

A quick flash, oh I held onto it,

A memory making its way through, 

A sweet stolen reminiscence.

 

 School walls adorned in colors, 

Merry of White uniforms, 

Green bands, Orange ribbons,

A paper flag pinned to my chest,

Flying high, a slight arc and turn

To see it again, 

My heart silently swelling with pride,

A beat dared to miss the rhythm

 

A second memory, 

Uniforms adorned with proud stars,

A silent prayer to keep him safe,

Thoughts to nameless friends

Standing brave and tall

at the borders

 

Time is cruel now, 

Memory not so sweet,

Melancholy moods in the morning,

Are you really free?

 

The world is at war, 

Didn't you see the news,

Riots, bombing, shooting,

Hatred sugar coated  in words,

Peace is just a mirage,

Privacy an illusion, 

Down to your pulse bartered and 

sold in the market

 

But are you not free, came the reply?

You hold to your religion, your beliefs

Your words, your truth,

Language that you speak in, 

That internet blinking every day, every hour

 

Shadows creep in again,

Aren't we chained to our thoughts,

Our misplaced faith,

Endless scrolling, mindless binging

Anything but the reality

 

Free

A four letter word,

A state of mind,

Twined with actions blind,

Pinned to a slavery

yet to be free of