Do not

Do not tell me what to do,
Do not tell me what to say.
Do not tell me I have sinned,
Do not force me to pray.

Do not feed me politics,
Do not feed me fear.
Do not tell me you are right,
If I fail to adhere.

Do not tell me what to wear,
Nor how my hair should be.
Do not use your anaemic life,
As an exemplar to control me.

Do not tell me how to speak,
Nor expressions I can’t use.
Do not stifle my buoyant soul,
With your condemnatory noose.

Restrain me, suppress me,
Dampen me, diminish me.
Subdue me with your vapid norms.
But I will not give in,
I will not succumb.