To Soar or to Stay

By Aditi Penumatcha

Once I asked a bird

“Which would you prefer?

A home of diamonds and gold

Or flight in a sky where dangers lurk?”

“I would choose the skies,” said the bird

“Why? Why would you want

Almost certain death

In a world where freedom is scarce

Over a life of comfort

Why do you choose this path” I asked

“Because my dear,” said the bird

“Why have wings if I don’t use them to fly?

Should I choose to walk, why have them at all?

The skies were made for us to reach

No limit set to our dreams

Yet you speak of a golden home

That is no more than a cage made of diamonds and gold

The gilded cage may have wealth

But it can never be

The joy I have when I’m in the sky

Nothing can match that ecstasy

Your wings, like mine, are not ornamental

They were made to soar around the world

So why do you wish to clip them off

When you could spread them instead and fly?

Yes, you can go down the safer path

And lead an easy life

But what is it worth to live in this hell

If you can’t be free at all?

Listen to me and head my advice

We all only get one true life

I chose to be free even if I must fall

Others choose to stay for something else

Which is not wrong at all

We are all different

You are a human and I a bird

We all must lead different paths

And write our own stories

Yours my dear will be very unique

It will bask in light and glory

By Aditi