At dVerse I am hosting Poetics for Tuesday May 16 (EST) with an invitation to write a poem that speaks for those poets who are imprisoned or harassed for their writing.
You can link here to dVerse to read more details and resource and the poems submitted.
Photo: peaceinkurdistancampaign.com The Kurdish poet Ilhan Sami Comak imprisoned in Turkey for 27 years on false charges. The European Court of Human rights has ruled that his conviction is unlawful.
Note: This is a revised version of an earlier poem of the same title.
“Poetry is not an expression of the party line.” Allen Ginsberg
Poem For Ilhan Sami Comak Once there were two birds, but isn't that always the case? One came and sat at my window, the other perched in a cage, and though the one left the window for the trees, it sang its freedom in seeking my food, while the caged one had no such concern, and gave itself instead to singing its freedom to the world. Copyright 2021 ©️Paul Vincent Cannon All Rights Reserved ®️ Some further Reading https://ilhancomak.wordpress.com/New call for the release of Kurdish poet İlhan Sami Çomak jailed in Turkey for 26 yearshttps://www.facebook.com/peninternational
parallax 
Beautiful Paul. That song of freedom is more important. Thank you for hosting dVerse Poetics and introducing me to his work.
LikeLike
Excited to see you hosting!❤️ What a thought-provoking prompt.🙏🏼
LikeLike
the caged one
had no such concern,
and gave itself instead
to singing its freedom
to the world.
“That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.”
2 Timothy 1:12 NLT
LikeLike
A thought-provoking poem. I like how you use the bird metaphor to define the true meaning of freedom.
LikeLike
I love the poem and of course the nod to Maya Angelou as well
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ah, you noticed, thank you for that and for reading.
LikeLike
You and Grace chose the same poet, Paul, and I’m always amazed by the different responses to the same inspiration in Poetics. I was also interested to see that your poem is a revised version of an earlier poem of the same title. So far I have noticed that you, Grace and I have all used bird metaphors, with you comparing two. Love it!
LikeLike
Paul thank you for the evocative prompt and your powerful poem that speaks to it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for this Lisa – appreciated
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re very welcome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
An interesting poem with implications far beyond the words.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Dwight, appreciated, and yes, far beyond.
LikeLike
You are most welcome!
LikeLiked by 1 person
and gave itself instead
to singing its freedom
to the world.
Apologies for crediting the prompt initially as Grace’s in my blog which has since been corrected.
The actual call for freedom is rightly extended not by his physical presence but his poetry. That’s the only way and he accomplished it very well. Love the way you showed the contrasting episodes to highlight the one imprisoned. Well done Paul!
Hank
LikeLiked by 1 person
Many thanks Hank – appreciated 🙂
LikeLike