Manifesto of Man

By Soviet dissident and author Yuri Galanskov

I'll go out on the square
and into the city's ear
I'll hammer a cry of despair...

This is me,
calling to truth and revolt,
willing no more to serve,
I break your black tethers
woven of lies.

I didn't want your bread
kneaded with tears.

And I'm falling and soaring,
half-delirious,
half asleep...
And I feel
man
blooming in me.

Found on page 147 of his book, To Build a Castle - My Life as a Dissenter.