The Wardens

The wardens stand watch
Eager to catch
Anyone who may try
The norm to defy
Carefully scanning the horizon
Of the social prison
Ready to end
Any dissent
Ensuring that no one dares bring change
Or their lifestyle, rearrange
For everyone must conform
To the norm

Standing firm
Expressions stern
Holding the whip
At the hip
Ready to quell
Any rebel
Their job to find
And to remind
Society’s rules
To dissenting fools
Whose love for difference
Is an offence

Show some spine
You’ll be whipped in line
Do things your way
And hear what they say
No room for difference
Just obedience
Keep the system intact
Is what they want
You have no rights
So don’t even fight
Just conform
Live by the norm

Dare to challenge
Try to bring change
But don’t be surprised
If you’re reprised
For though change must come
It is not welcome
So rather than accept
Your fate
For its not oppression
Just tradition
And you have no choice
So don’t raise your voice

But what about me
Can’t you see?
I long to do
Something new
And be myself
And not a serf
That is bound
By rules they found
Which are now senseless
And quite purposeless
Why should I conform
And live by the norm?

Tradition is blind
Society unkind
To individuality
And originality
Those with desire
To rise higher
And not conform
Or live by the norm
Must pay the prize
Of great reprise
But will for their pain
Receive much gain!

Matilda Moyo
07 February 2009