Umuntu

I stand outside the cage,
everyone is asking me to come back inside,
"come" they say
why enjoy freedom when you can be tied up
why talk about whatever you want.
we don't do that where we're from.
"I know" I said
"thats why I'm free"
I can talk about whatever I want to anyone I like now.

They said to me "you still have to follow rules"
rules that governed our culture,
I believe you also do not follow all the rules of our culture
you pick the rules you break,
you judge others for breaking the ones you decide to follow

I suffer in silence and you are content
you like the status quo,
you'd rather talk to me without knowing about me,
a convenient friendship,
well I'm not interested.
I'm tired saying one thing to you
while something else killing me inside,
tired of putting up a show when I'm around you
"as culture dictates" no longer applies to me.
I will choose those cultural rules that will help me,
not those that will keep me bound.

I will no longer be a part of this charade.
This circus of pointless jests and jeers,
while there more pressing issues on the burner.
I understand its inevitable we may have to part ways
I'm fine with it.
I want to say things the way I see them,
I understand I will be judged
I'm ready to pay the price,
the price of being me,
I want to tell the ups and downs of me,
I don't want to sit alone and suffer it myself,
I want to share it and be human,
Be a part of Umuntu.