Shackled by the mind

Shackled by the Mind - The Story of the Red Rooster
By JD Gordon

Copy right (2007) J.D. Gordon All rights reserved

One day I captured a red domestic fowl
Who was always free to be
Never knew bondage, never knew restraint
But here he was, shackled, not free

This beautiful red feather bird
Had been around for my growing days
Was the last of its sort
But he surely knew glory days

By the tie of a cord, a law or a curse,
On only one leg
He was now married to a tree
This bird that once was free

Many days had passed
Then, he was finally unfastened
Told many times to roam
He never budged, just stood there all alone

For in his mind he was still not free
And oh, he reminded me so much of me
For though my hands and feet were loosed
I was still held by the roost

Rebellions, bloodsheds and grief
Woeful Pain, rusted fetters and agony,
Battered, shattered and left to die
Not a beast, but a Slave was I

Eighteen thirty and eight
I was emancipated, this date
Free to walk, free to talk, free to live
I must now be set free again

For my mind is still held captive
Bound by prejudice, pride and injustice
From the evil shackles, I must flee

For though emancipated, I am still not free