what is surrendered

move forward and you come back to the past

you give up peace and friendship at the start

but still the monster won't let you depart

anguish alone must hold on to the last

love smiles but all its moments go too fast

and hope is faster here than any dart

anger and rage will rot the normal heart

while hatred journeys before every mast

time is no cure nor change of sun to rain

nor is the amaranth a source of steel

though each magician turns out just a liar

we turn to them to ease the steady pain

produced each day by turning of the wheel

knowing full well we can't avoid the fire

villanelle for emancipation day

free folk who turn their backs on the sweet cane

for bitter striving on the mountainside

don't count hard labour now as any pain

 

since now there is good reason to hold strain

while men on horseback dare not shout nor chide

free folk who turn their backs on the sweet cane

 

whose feet are moving uphill from the plain

towards the places where they used to hide

don't count hard labour now as any pain

 

when it's all yours when none of it's in vain

as hopes are reached and none of them denied

free folk who turn their backs on the sweet cane

 

have seas to cross and great dreams to attain

their inner voices have made them decide

don't count hard labour now as any pain

 

they will not fall back to bondage again

but face the world with proper joy and pride

free folk who turn their backs on the sweet cane

don't count hard labour now as any pain