What is Freedom?

What is freedom?
Is it the open sea?
Is it the wilderness, where only the toughest survive?
Is it the blue, blue sky, where birds reign?
Do you envy them their wings?
I do.

What is freedom?
Is it the inky blackness of the night, that hides you from prying eyes?
Is it the glorious sunrise that takes your breath away?
Is it the stillness of the grave?
Do you envy the dead their silence?
I do.

What is freedom?
Is it a far-away land where nobody knows you?
Is it home where nobody judges you?
Is it the blessed mindlessness of the crowd?
Is it the beautiful solitude of having yourself to yourself?
Do you envy you your thoughts?
I do.

What is freedom?
I envy the birds their wings, the dead their silence, you your thoughts.
But, and listen close,
Would you like to know what freedom is to me?
It is love.

My mother's love, wrapping around me like a cocoon, the softest cocoon I have ever known
Her soft voice, and her smile
And the sound of her voice
And her warm, warm hands pulling me close
In the most beautiful embrace.

I would like to be wrapped in the folds of my mother's love
Her presence, like a shelter all around me
Protecting me from the world.
That, to me, is the truest freedom in the world.
To be bound and wrapped around
And still be free.

So, you ask me, do you envy the birds their wings?
Do you envy the dead their silence, me my thoughts?
I say, I do, I do, I do.
But, the world envies me still more,
For while the birds have their wings,
The dead have their silence,
You have your thoughts,
I have my mother's love
And it is the greatest freedom I could ever wish for.

Comments

  1. Unknown30 September 2015 at 09:42

    Beautiful poem Anu.....love u my angel

    ReplyDelete
  2. Unknown30 September 2015 at 10:31

    Love you Anu

    From your irritating brother Viggy

    ReplyDelete
  3. Unknown30 September 2015 at 11:11

    wonderful...truely loving ...nicely expressed the freedom .This can be only felt ..god bless

    ReplyDelete
  4. Unknown30 September 2015 at 11:11

    wonderful...truely loving ...nicely expressed the freedom .This can be only felt ..god bless

    ReplyDelete
  5. Unknown30 September 2015 at 12:00

    This is so beautiful. Simple yet brilliant, this is what you do best. I shall surely share this with my mother, who means the world to me, but doesn't know it I guess. Anu, your gift are these indispensable works of poetry, Your gift is Inferno, one that is made up of powerful words. Will I still be reading your works after ages...For you, a thousand times over. Still waiting for your first novel. Godspeed! Cheers, One of your biggest fans :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anu_Venu30 September 2015 at 12:10

      Oh my god,Pethi. Thank you so much! This means so much to me,it really does. Lots and lots of love from missing-you-loads :* You're awesome. Thanks once again,you know how much your words mean to me.

      Delete
  6. Vaishnave Subbramanian30 September 2015 at 13:01

    <3
    Beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Vaishnave Subbramanian30 September 2015 at 13:05

    <3
    Beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Raghavan Brothers1 October 2015 at 03:31

    Anu, your poems are so soulful that it makes me very emotional. This one is no different. I wish i had expressed my love to my mom like this. So touching, so from the bottom of the heart, i cant express it in words (like you) . It is God's special gift to you, so grow it and keep enlightening us. Loads of best withes to you for all the very best that life can offer. Proud of you

    Veda Aunty

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anu_Venu1 October 2015 at 07:32

      Thank you so so much,Aunty! Your praise means a LOT to me :)

      Delete
  9. Unknown1 October 2015 at 04:33

    Dear Anu, Everytime i read your poetry, I am left speechless. Very well expression of your feelings and love u have for your mother. Indeed a blessed child of a blessed mother. proud of u JO proud of u ANU. God be with u in every step of life. Take care - Love Shri Aunty

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anu_Venu1 October 2015 at 07:33

      Hii aunty :) thank you very much for your kind words and encouragement,it means a lot to me!

      Delete
  10. charanyakannan@gmail.com2 October 2015 at 03:23

    Hi Anu,
    These words would have brought tears of love and joy and pride in your mom's eyes. Not just your mom. Every mother would feel the same. You are God's true gift. Neighbour's envy...owner's pride.
    Cheers.
    Charanya Kannan
    (Your mom's Athmalaya friend)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anu_Venu2 October 2015 at 03:42

      Thank you so much,Aunty! Really appreciate the kind words :) Thanks very much :)

      Delete

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