One of my favorite authors is Ayn Rand. I was 16 the first time my cousin R. introduced me to one of her books, and I was hooked on them from then on.
I cannot say I share her sentiments regarding cities, but I do regarding progress and, more importantly, regarding the Human Spirit. Since young, it never sat well with me the idea that one had to diminish oneself in order to please "the lord". I love the God of Spinoza, and I resonate with Nietzsche's and Bulgakov's sentiments on life; where life is more than the boxes presented to us. With life becoming a theater of our own reflections, the training grounds for the development of our strength and the playground to discover and express our own gifts and talents. This poem is inspired by all those mentioned; mostly by the fervor of Ayn Rand about what it means to be human.
TO BE HUMAN
What does it mean to be human? For some, it means only the mundane By which the body needs to be punished in order to transcend. For the free-spirited To be human is to be Divine To experience all ranges of dark and light Where love, suffering, beauty and truth combine The ultimate freedom of choice Will your life be an indomitable masterpiece? Or will you succumb to the nightmares of the herd?
Within this grand stage of existence behold Man, sovereign of his own domain, In him, the universe's secrets unfold, He is no little ant… He does not need to play small… He does not need to please the world… He can be proud of himself Showcasing his value unafraid No need to boast; false ego has no hold For he is aware of his own worth.
He is grace and freedom combined A being unmatched, destined to reign The Divine has determined this to be so Embracing his wild divinity He stands free and unashamed Are you beginning to comprehend?
To be Human is to taste heaven and hell From the core emanates strength to shape fate, Molding Maya's reality to your noble design, In your hands, the power to create, A testament to your own inner power A testament to your love… A testament to your heart. Behold the beauty of your noble spirit Your mind a beacon of reason… A guiding light to help navigate the storms To own one's inner fire of creation is the ultimate goal.
The free-spirited man understands his role In the pursuit of his own being, he is relentless His spirit ablaze, in the quest for what is most valuable His liberation from the shackles in which he was born Shackles meant to strip him of his own power Were through dogma and rigidity One is left with only self-abuse as rebellion Another poison packaged as the ultimate act of liberation All lies meant to destroy MAN So that the master of this world becomes just another slave.
Yet, the free-spirited man refuses to be caged Nor will he denigrate himself He seeks no medals of holiness Nor does he play society's game. Within his heart, a tempest rages The struggle of existence, a relentless storm Through adversity, he turns the page He embraces his wild side… His warrior… To be pleasing is not something for which he cares. His body and mind are his friends Which he savors with sweet delight Wild yet Sacred is he And through these, he is reborn No deity to save him For he needs no lord Through his triumphs and trials He communes with the Divine While navigating the tapestry of life.
Oh, the beauty of being human is profound, In the crossroads of life, a chance is always offered Will you let them determine your worth? Will you play small? Will you cut your wings to fit their rigid games? Or will you find the courage to embrace your essence To let the divine shine forth in its magnificent wildness Balanced from either extreme Unbound... Unafraid... A testament to the glory of your birth For you are creator, not sheep And you came here to LIVE!
Sofia E. Falcone
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