Since I am a direct descendant of Homo Erectus, let me Stand straight as a human/人, rather than kneel down When two humans walk side by side, why to coerce one Into obeying the other like a slave fated to follow/从? Since three humans can live together, do we really need A leader or ruler on top of us all as a group/众? Given all the freedom I was born with, why Just why cage me within walls like a prisoner/囚？ Yuan Changming hails with Allen Yuafrom poetrypacific.blogspot.ca. Credits include Pushcart nominations and publications in Best of the Best Canadian Poetry (2008-17) & BestNewPoemsOnline, among others. Recently, Yuan served on the jury for Canada's 44th National Magazine Awards (English poetry category).