Severed Strings

"Because to take away a man's freedom of choice,
even his freedom to make the wrong choice,
is to manipulate him as though he were a puppet and not a person."
- Madeleine L'Engle

Severed strings trailing behind
they walk unfettered
by the manipulation
of another.

They walk
across plains,
through deserts,
and up mountains.
At each crossroad
they are confronted
with choice.

Do they change directions;
do they choose a path
that may be
easier
or more difficult
to tread?

Each must choose
his
or
her
own path
to self-determination.

No longer mannequins,
they have the privilege of deciding
their future for themselves,
and only time will tell
if it is the right
or the wrong decision.