Contemplation
Posted by Kaleidoscope on November 8, 2005
written by: Ayya 
As a bird is free, I want to flee,
But, I am in a cage.
Yet, the cage is my doing.
It’s my own pursuing.
Tolerance to society,
Tolerance to intolerance,
Tolerance to ignorance:To austerity.
Tolerance, to the place that was once
The learned, the sage.
But, in my haste
And the years in waste and
Captivity,
I do my sum for the day to come
On wage and change.
To break away, and gain one day;
My lost sanity.
But the question is: How much is this
Cost for the exchange?
Will I ever be
As free
To flee
Nostalgy!
© COPYRIGHT AYYA 2005
November 8, 2005 at 10:53 am
I see you are contemplating what many women in Kuwait contemplate: why do we accept things in our society that make no sense? Why do we practice traditions that we find repugnant? Why is it that, while we fight for more freedom of thought, we still censor our own freedom of action? We are afraid of being judged by individuals whose judgment is cloudy at best and insignificant at worst.
I, like you Ayya, also long to break away and gain my lost sanity. I have spent too much time being sane in the world of the insane.
P.S. God bless the pen that wrote this beautifully penetrating poem.
November 8, 2005 at 1:49 pm
I second Mushmushi..
This is truely a beautiful poem..
But Ayya, can one ever be free.. do u wanna know what i really think..
we dont cage ourselves because society has certain codes of conduct that we may disagree with but must adhere to.. thus begetting the notion of being jailed..
NO…
this cage we build & decorate, so we can tolerate, is the making.. the by-product, of our fear.. ever so deeply rooted.. that to think it can be eradicated… well… let me say this..
If one has not taken such a step in his/her late teens.. then it gets harder as one gets older.. coz if its not society, then it’ll definitely be something else, like family, like work, like children, like friends, like whatever constitutes life..
It has to be a conviction.. this liberty.. that we so insist on, but r too lazy/selfish to pursue..
Dont know if i’m making any sense though.. still a very touching poem indeed..
November 8, 2005 at 8:47 pm
Poetic rap meshed with meaning and dipped in nostalgic pain. Delicious. It’s music without the external vocals. It’s music of and for the senses. It’s art for the mind.
Superb job Ayya!
November 9, 2005 at 11:44 am
Mushmushi and Kristalle
Thank you both, you were so sweet
In this poem what I’m trying to present is a general problem that concerns a large percentage of people who had developed broader minds to feel the wrongs in the society, yet have to abide by its traditions. It concerns the internal urge to reject rules and regulation that the society had forced on them; things like hypocrisy, wasta, double standard ideologies, segregation between men and women in the society and it’s damaging long term effect, the very misconception of family honor, misusing religion etc., they see the wrong in the society but are helpless to do anything about it; even a simple thing like walking on the beach and smiling or saying “Hi” to a complete stranger is a taboo. We are forced to stay behind closed doors against our will. We are forced to wear masks. Some might suffer but swallow the bullet, but others can’t. Some might think to just forget about this country and go live abroad where they can feel their freedom. But even that is not a solution because the cost paid is enormous and they can never be free for one simple reason: they belong to this society. It’s a kind of an indirect message to all of those to speak up and say their minds no matter how radical their ideologies may seem. Off course they will be rejected, but that is also a price to pay for freedom.
TANTALIZE
This is the first time I’m experimenting with alternative rhyming form; I’m flattered that you liked it, thanks dear.
November 9, 2005 at 12:32 pm
The poem is not only a reflection of you as the writer with your thoughts at hand, but also a reflection and contemplation for readers to think of just how each and everyone might see similar elements in their own worlds. You have landed a double punch because it individually illuminates the writer’s perceptions with those of the readers’. Consequently, it cycles and recyles amongst other personalities, touching their lives and making them dive into ‘contemplation’ too.
It was a pleasure
November 9, 2005 at 8:16 pm
Brilliant and Eloquent, both the verse and prose .. Thanks
November 9, 2005 at 9:46 pm
Lovely expression, AyyA and voicing what I have personally felt many times.
November 10, 2005 at 12:34 am
Nicely done Ayya
I really liked this poem - you encapsulated a touchy subject with modernistic style and form. If you have anymore poems, I’d like to see them 
November 10, 2005 at 1:11 pm
ECLECTIC
I’m glad that the message was clearly delivered.
“I” .. the Beholder
Thanks to you “I”, the writings are worthless without the contemplating readers like youeself.
Jewaira
I’m sure lady J that you have felt that as well as many others.
McArabian
Thanks sweetie, and yes I have many more of the kind, of which most are buried in the memory of my PC, but someday inshallah they’ll see the light when the time is right.
November 10, 2005 at 11:28 pm
Cok guzel! The poem was excellent–often times I feel the same way. I abhor the discriminatory standards set forth by society–yet half the time I feel as though I am powerless to make much of a difference to change what I see around me for the better. Of course, I don’t expect to change the world, but if each of us stood up for what is universally just–the world would be so much better off.
November 11, 2005 at 1:20 am
Ayya, these are the feelings we all go through, in every society. A beautiful poem, it really touched me. Keep writing!
July 8, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Ok, so your saying you want to be free hang around naked (referring to ur pic) in a Muslim society? Buddy, being a Muslim is having modesty for women and men, men arent the ones who are ‘free’ in Islam, women have the rights as well but there is a limit, ya3nee you cant walk around in beaches with bikinis saying hi to strangers! Thats against what our religion Islam teaches us, same for the men they cant walk around in shorts hitting on random chicks! Its time we realize what the teachings of our religion is, these BASIC principals have saved Muslims from the destructive society that non muslims are living these days, please dont share ideas like yours that promote such a cause! thanks may Allah guide us all. Ameen.
peace out sister!
July 12, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Ali Naqvi, it is a personal matter of choice as to how one chooses to lead their lives. If I incur the wrath of God and contradict my religion, as you say, then I shall suffer the consequences and not you. Who are you to impose how I want to live? Are you God? Are you me? God gave me the gift of free will and the ability to evolve as a human based on my intention- not yours or your wisdom and personal morality. The greatest folly of the Islamic nation is that we violently impose our morality on others. Let everyone live thier lives in peace, for judgement is not yours, but Gods.
wa salaam alaycom.
PS Ayya you rock, as always.