How Dare You!

by Michele T. Fry 11/9/90
This poem is drawn partly from an observation of my son’s belligerence at being controlled in any way, and partly from my own libertarian sentiments, railing against male dominance, government regulations, human selfishness, and Christianity’s presumptive judgment of how other people must live their way or roast in hell for all eternity.

How dare you ever, ever try to
tell me what to do!
I came to do my own thing here
and not do dance one single dance
at a command from you.

How dare you to behave as though
my soul belongs to you --
to make me live the way you say
or ever miss a single day
of what I’m here to learn and do.

Fear. Addiction. Desolation.
Lust and passion. All sensation.
I must master through and through
and I’ll return, and re-return
until I do.

But there you go, restricting me,
devising plans and pulling strings,
waging wars and blaming me
and hating all who don’t agree
with you.

Drug wars. Laws. Tax obligation.
Censorship and prohibition --
Rules you’ve made to kill the seeds
I need to plant to grow.

I pity you, and death defy,
to claim my life for me. Screech on,
but I’ll not fund your wars,
nor sacrifice myself to die
in crossfires set by you!

 

I’m coming through, now step aside,
And don’t you ever once more pry
One joyous moment from my day,
            Or steal the pathos from my play,
                        Or cut the price I wish to pay
                                    For what I do.
What kind of “friend” are you?

I hereby claim my right to plant and
harvest my own truths.
Demanding not one thing from you,
except that you must let me through
to find my truth for me.

And in return, a precious gift
of the highest kind I know.
I’ll honor you your right to choose --
to plant and tend and reap and sow
what all you need to grow.

Up and down, and round you’ll twine.
On your path somewhere you’ll find me,
leaning forward just to catch
the beautiful sight of you. Flowering free.
Inspiring me
on my way to Liberty.

            Bless you. Bless all
            who’ve learned this truth divine:       
            your spirit is too limited
            to know the needs of mine.