Caged - Never Alone

In a world where society's expectations often become our invisible cages, "Caged" explores the journey from suffocation to liberation. This powerful poem captures the struggle of breaking free from others' judgments and finding the courage to live authentically.

The Pain of Confinement

The poem begins with the raw pain of being trapped - not by physical walls, but by the overwhelming weight of society's opinions and expectations.

Ouch! It hurts. Still I can't stop kicking and punching
After all, I need to cling to life.
There is my lifeline; someone's coming
He says," I have got a bottle of oxygen along with a winsome knife."
Take your last breath and kill yourself.

The opening stanza presents us with a paradox - the desperate fight for life while being offered the means for escape through destruction. The "winsome knife" represents society's subtle suggestion that perhaps giving up would be easier than continuing to struggle.

I am in a cage right now, made by the society
And don't worry, I threw the knife away.
Everyone here expects me to behave with utter propriety
And wants me to work their way; thousand people, thousand says
But when I rejected, they trapped me in this negative cage of taunts.

Here, the metaphor becomes explicit. The cage isn't made of metal or wood - it's constructed from society's expectations, judgments, and the crushing weight of a thousand different voices telling us how to live our lives.

The Chorus of Criticism

"You helped an elderly woman cross a road, that was really irreverent."
"Dress properly, wear a sweater in summers."
"You topped an exam? Stop trying to be a legend."
"You are so beautiful, now go and cry in a corner."
Huff, comments by passerby. Whatever you do, no one is ever pleased.

This stanza brilliantly captures the impossible nature of societal approval. No matter what we do - whether it's helping others, achieving success, or simply existing - there will always be someone ready to criticize. The examples are deliberately contradictory and absurd, highlighting how impossible it is to satisfy everyone.

The Moment of Transformation

But then comes the turning point - the moment when the narrator chooses self-compassion over self-destruction, inner wisdom over external validation.

After months in this cage, I learnt to care for myself
Be happy with myself, not go by the society's commands,
I neatly arranged all these comments on a shelf
I lighted them with my own hands
And felt all the negativity inside me fly far away.

This powerful imagery of taking all the negative comments, arranging them deliberately, and then burning them represents a conscious choice to reject the power these words have held. It's not about ignoring criticism entirely, but about choosing which voices deserve our attention.

As soon as my thoughts grew positive
The stout metal cage, turned into feeble cotton cage
And no longer, I was held captive
Finally I had turned my life's much awaited page.
I broke free of their tender care.

The transformation from "stout metal cage" to "feeble cotton cage" shows how our perspective can literally change our reality. What once seemed immovable becomes soft, breakable, escapable when we shift our mindset.

Life in Freedom

Now I am living in jollity and satisfaction
Functioning my way, just listening to the ones who really care
Society is still judging me on my every action
But I can't go in that suffocating cage again, I swear
Can't ever trust them with the key of my life.

The final stanza acknowledges an important truth: society doesn't stop judging when we decide to live authentically. The difference is that we no longer give others the power to lock us up with their opinions. We keep the key to our own life.

A Message of Hope and Empowerment

As Ananya beautifully concludes: "There are so many problems that we face, so much negativity surrounds us, there are so many people who want to see us lose, who want to break us because they are scared of us but never stop listening to yourself because you and your close ones only know you."

"And a year in this cage and you welcome depression. Move on in life, achieve success and most importantly, do what makes you happy without harming others."

The Universal Message

This poem speaks to anyone who has ever felt trapped by others' expectations - whether they come from family, friends, society, or even our own internalized voices. It reminds us that:

Freedom is a choice: We can choose to stop giving others the power to cage us with their opinions.
Self-care isn't selfish: Learning to care for ourselves and prioritize our own happiness is essential for mental health.
Authenticity requires courage: Living according to our own values rather than society's expectations takes tremendous bravery.
Not everyone's opinion matters: We should listen to those who truly care about us, not every passerby with a comment.
Change is possible: Even after months or years in a metaphorical cage, we can still break free and start fresh.

Remember: You hold the key to your own cage. Society may continue to judge, but you don't have to hand them the power to lock you up. Your happiness, your authenticity, and your peace of mind are worth fighting for.

In a world that often tries to force us into boxes and cages of expectation, "Caged" serves as both a warning and an inspiration. It warns us of the mental health dangers of living according to others' expectations while inspiring us with the possibility of freedom that comes from choosing ourselves.

The journey from cage to freedom isn't easy, but as this poem beautifully demonstrates, it is absolutely possible. And once you taste that freedom - once you learn to be on your own side - you'll never want to go back to the suffocating cage of others' expectations again.

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