As a writer and creative, I am increasingly troubled by the insidious limitations being placed on free speech and expression.  We have never made progress though silence. We have never created a masterpiece with a limited palette. We must retain the right to say whatever we feel, freely and openly.

Yes, doing so may lead to hurt feelings, opposition and upset.  But we will never move forward without discourse; in many ways, speaking our mind, and perhaps being challenged, is what leads us to new understanding and evolution of thought. The alternative is an increasingly pressurized society with smiling false exteriors and stunted growth. Moreover, what is ‘acceptable’ is fast being determined by only a handful of people.  Regardless of where you stand on the socio-political spectrum, this is an issue for All.  To that end, here’s a short poem – cheers!
_ _ _ _ _ _ _

 

If in your Heart
There Lies an Ache
To Say
What you Do Feel

If True will Grow
Even if You
In Darkness
Try Conceal

For Truth, You See’s
A Fertile thing
Imbued with Life
And Might.

And True Ideas
Like Redwood Seeds
Can Grow
To Stagg’ring Height

The True Idea
Is Threatening
To Those who Run
The Show

Modern Herods
Methodically
Try Kill It
‘Fore it Grow

Limit, They Try,
What Can be Said,
De Facto
Censorship

A Public Square
Of Cancel-Shame
If Dare Your Truth
Let Slip

“It’s For the Good of All”
They Claim,
Yet Alone Define
Those Terms

And Try to Keep
Ungerminated
Truth Below,
With Worms

But That’s a Fruitless Task,
You See,
Like Rhizomes
Truth Does Spread

That Single Sprout
They Watch For
Will Emerge as Field
Instead

And if Expression
Of One’s True-Held
Truth Does
Truly Cease

When that Light
Is Extinguished
With It Goes
All Hope For Peace

And we will Live
In Darkness
Though Appearance
Will Be Light

Of False-Veneered
Subservience
To Those Who
Deem What’s Right

So Be Now Bold
Let Truth Be Told
Regardless of
Condition

Of Course, Be Kind,
But Speak Your Mind,
Without
False Inhibition

And Over Time
T’won’t be A Crime
To Say What’s
In Your Heart

But Action Now
Is Needed, and
Today’s The Time
To Start.