Don'T Call Me Free (When I'M Still In Chains) Poem by James Ogunjimi

Don't call me free, when chains are all around me.
Don't call me independent, when on others I still rely.
Don't call me innocent, when my hands are stained with blood.
Don't call me free, when I'm still in chains.

Don't preach peace to me, when war is all around me.
Don't force me to be at peace when you are the architects of war.
Don't punish me when in anger I fight back.
Don't call me free, when I'm still in chains.

Don't preach love to me, when hate reigns supreme in your heart.
Don't teach me to love my neighbour when you have pushed yours away.
Don't pray for love to fill my heart, when hate now rules in yours.
Don't call me free, when I'm still in chains.

Don't preach uprightness to me, when your ways are crooked.
Don't teach me to make my life an open book, when yours are closed and full of dirty secrets.
Don't pray for me to shun corruption, when you come to equity with stained hands.
Don't call me free, when I'm still in chains.

Don't preach courage to me, when you are chicken-hearted.
Don't teach me to stand up and look the world straight in the eye, when your own heads are bent in fear.
Don't pray for my strength not to fail, when you've been drained of yours.
Don't call me free, when I'm still in chains.