Freedom, they said, was for all,
But it became a privilege—
rationed, conditional.
Laws were written in the ink of fear,
Meant to bind us but never them.
Papers dictated our worth,
Time slots our movements.
For what felt like endless seasons,
My world shrank to walls and whispers.
A yard became my horizon,
A car my only escape.
Truth was silenced,
Questions outlawed.
They called it protection,
But it felt like exile.
The Constitution became fragile glass,
Shattering under the weight of hypocrisy.
Freedom was not free;
It was a cage lined with lies,
Its door held shut by fear.
I lost more than days—I lost trust.
The land of the free stood still,
Its anthem drowned in passive compliance.
This poem reflects the emotional landscape shaped by pandemic measures in New England, where silence became a prison for many. The enforced isolation and restrictions led to feelings of confinement, as laws and guidelines dictated daily life. Yet, within this silence, there emerged a defiant spirit—a refusal to accept oppression. The juxtaposition of fear and resilience highlights the struggle against societal constraints, resonating with the collective experience of navigating uncertainty and loss during the pandemic. Through poetic expression, the complexities of human emotion are unveiled, capturing both despair and the unwavering hope for freedom.