I grew up in a land where war's the norm,
No rules to break, we all must conform.
Silence here doesn’t equate to peace,
No man’s a foe, no man’s an ally at ease.

To speak your mind is to court betrayal,
Individuality's just a facade for portrayal.
Freedom's brief, a fleeting, trivial spark,
Unseen in the rulers' cold, dark mark.

Our dreams are shadows in a night so long,
Where hope feels foreign, and courage seems wrong.
In streets where whispers carry weight,
A breath of truth might seal your fate.

Yet I escaped, found freedom's grace,
But haunted am I by each innocent face.
The ones I left in shadows, in fear,
Their silent cries are all I hear.

© sionx