My Voice

By Mallika Chandrasekhar

My voice

A precious gift

A way to express

My truth, my feelings

My life as I live it

My voice

Still or silence it

Repress or restrain it

drown or tame it

I will still use it

My voice

Is not that meek or mild

Not like the weather wild

It is the words behind

That make my voice so uniquely mine

My voice

Doesn’t have to prove

Its powerful and mighty

It is strong and frightening

It just has to be used rightly

My voice

Will not be subdued

By cacophony and censors

It will not be hushed

By naysayers and unbelievers

My voice

Will come out as words

From my heart

Thoughts and expressions

Freely uttered

My voice

Is mine and mine alone

Let the cynics try to mute or muffle it

It will still rise and roar

Louder and clearer than ever before.

By Mallika Chandrasekhar