Hands Tied

By Abhedika Dhanrajani

You made him the animal he was,  
Pre-evolutionary sulking for those  
Who imparted him, held him so close,  
To use the weapons against his foes.

He cried in the rain wiping his cheeks  
From the blood that splattered, so weak.  
Looked at his hand, staring so deep,  
But it’s their fault, it’s their own greed.

He grinned his teeth at his pre-acquired prey,  
His dragons and demons, all ready to slay.  
But as he raises his hands to fight his battles,  
He stood there frozen, as he frightfully obeyed.

The voices inside him begged him to be  
The hero that his mother swears to believe.  
The one who planted him in her womb  
Left without planting the sapling —  
Oh! A villain indeed.

So he should use that power to cut the weeds, but instead,  
They tied the hands that were always meant to feed.  
His army that was born to follow, but chose to be led,  
Now marching toward the incandescent glory of death,  
'Cause they despise the imitation of the ones who just left.

So he howled at the reflection of the moon in the rivers that bled,  
With teary eyes and the sweat that still flows in his heart,  
The blood that he lost and the blood he was forced to shed;  
'Cause he still loved the ones who stayed — but always apart.

But he is still the animal you created, just more refined,  
Left to deal with the cascading torsos and spineless spines.  
But I was taught to love the ones who picture spies,  
Running in their heads, hiding from counterfeit lies.

Because he misses the ones who left  
And the ones who were afraid to open their eyes.  
He just vexes the ones who saw  
But still refused to hold the hands that were tied.