you are not free: you just got used to your cages...

by nooshin azadi

picture by rhoda penmarq

. freedom is not the blue sky freedom is a blind child who asks why freedom is not a pair of wings freedom is a caged bird that sings freedom is not living carefree freedom is an endless loving spree freedom is not providing for our needs freedom is bowing to the wish of the weeds freedom is not a long-winded speech freedom is when silence can teach freedom is not a delirious dance freedom is a hanged man who's got no chance freedom is not a river that flows freedom is a wounded raven who crows freedom is not a feather in the wind freedom is an angel who virtuously has sinned freedom is not the state of affairs freedom is when a heart willingly dares freedom is not a right of some kind freedom is a state of mind .

of roads...

by nooshin azadi

picture by rhoda penmarq

. roads are many people choose just a few people are many roads choose just a few .

4. of houses and humans...

by human being

illustration by rhoda penmarq

. the new house is beautiful the new house is bare the new house is waiting for me i should pack my things: i cannot pack the walnut tree outside the window i cannot pack its summer branches  loaded with the screams of parrots and croaks of crows i cannot pack the persimmon tree in front of the balcony  i cannot pack its autumn attire decorated with merry fruits and starlings i cannot pack the sycamore maples and their early morning dialog with the sparrows i cannot pack the sweet voice of the neighbor's child who asks why leaves fall down  or why cats fight i cannot pack my footsteps  hushed on the trimmed garden of the carpets i cannot pack all the wandering words i hunted and the lines i tamed i cannot pack all the songs i sang silently and the tales walls listened patiently  i leave the old house empty-handed the new house is waiting for me the new house is beautiful the new house is bare .

3. of clouds and humans...

by human being

illustration by rhoda penmarq

. the cloud was grey and small nobody noticed it passing by neither the sun in the sky nor the earth under the sky not even the artist in the field the woman was grey and small nobody noticed her passing by neither the sun in the sky nor the earth under the sky not even the artist in the field the small cloud rained just one drop which fell down on the woman's cheek the canvas of the artist was as blue as the sky .

2. of birds and humans...

by human being

illustration by rhoda penmarq

. something white left the green tree and started swimming in the blue sky bird! said the mother the child watched the bird as it disappeared the child's feet left the sidewalk and started running in the street they were stopped by the father shouting at him: - what are you doing? the child looked at his guilty feet and said, bird! the child's hand holding a piece of chalk left the blackboard his line continued its journey over the walls of the classroom it was stopped by the teacher slapping him: - what are you doing? the child looked at his guilty hands and said, bird! the child left his feet and hands in the bed closed his eyes and dreamed of a bird .

1. of cats and humans...

by human being illustration by rhoda penmarq . they returned home without the cat! he could roam in a larger world now cats always need a larger world i wish i could erase all my memories with him, said the child she had a new wound to lick now children always have new wounds to lick one day all you'll have will be your memories, said the woman she felt the child needed something more than words now women always think they should give more the man was standing in the doorway saying nothing watching the woman embracing the child men always stand in the doorways and say nothing  .