BY THE LANTERN'S LIGHT

Ahmed Zayan

By the Lantern’s light
I remembered I could fly
Caged by none am I

No sway with their whims
No change in my direction
Lost, I will not be

I held fast to light
Amidst a storm of darkness
Swirling around me

Coasting on patience
Amid faith and fear, until
Hateful thoughts were heard

I knew I had crashed
Into well of hopelessness
Trapped by old lies. Then,

Through chaos I heard
A fervently, hushed whisper,
The voice of my heart

“I know I have the
Capacity.” With those words
Came a picture, a

Man with a lantern.
Who said “flap those wings birdie.”
With that I was free

Free to believe the
Light inside me, denouncing
Messages of night.