I was once under the spell of being the same,
I was once caged and yet I was convinced I was free,
And with my mind, gas lighted, I followed the herd,
I was myself but never was I me,

I plodded along thinking society’s thoughts,
My voice speaking only their words,
I was lost in the everyday chaos we call life,
A numerical machine marching to beat of the absurd,

My footsteps followed my predecessors,
My path was already paved,
I was convinced I was in control of my own life,
But in reality I was society’s slave,

I went to school to learn nothing,
I wanted money cos it’s what they said I needed,
I craved acceptance more than the air itself,
And I thought I was winning when I had already been defeated,

I ate the poisonous pesticides that smothered my food,
I drank the water full of chemicals to hydrate me,
I swallowed the synthetic pills that they prescribed,
And now I hobble like an old man and yet I am only 33,

I was under the melodic spell of my oppressor,
One of which no one could save me from,
But one day my saviour reached out to me,
And that day I listened to a different song,

The birds and the bees,
The rustling sound of the trees,
The rivers and the seas,
They all sang a song of freedom for me,

“Know who you are Callum,
You are not a number, statistic or a name,
You are a living thing,
And your life you must claim,

Be free and escape their control,
And walk freely on this earth as intended,
Don’t walk the path that was put in place for you,
Make your own decisions and not one that was forced or recommended,

The earth will give to you,
What you give to it,
It will always provide and look after you,
And even when you see only darkness you’re path shall be lit,

Face your fears with strength
And free the space in your mind,
Trust in us and trust in yourself,
Be courteous, cautious and kind,

Float freely like the clouds,
And listen to water with a sound that is true,
Be at one with the flora and fauna,
And they shall be at one with you,

Take only what you need,
And replace what you can,
Live a life that was meant to be yours,
Be true like a real animal and not false like man”,

I listened to the words of this song,
Sung to me by everything that wasn’t my own,
I thought long and hard about the lyrics,
And asked am I a man of flesh or a man of steel and stone?

I started to question everything,
Including the value of my worth and what I am,
No more shall I follow the flock or shepherd,
No more being part of the herd, mutton or lamb,

And like they said in the song,
The only way I can escape is to find nature again,
In order to be at peace with myself,
I need flora, fauna and the elements to be my friend,

And cos I want my life to be my own,
And I don’t want society to make me self-destruct,
And I will do anything to be set free,
I woke up today and I went and feed the pigeons and the ducks……

Wrote on: 20/06/2024