Sometimes
When I look up
To see the stars
Instead of freedom
I feel steel bars
I see that from here to my dreams
Is just too far
I’m on a battleground
Fighting a war
But the most hostile enemy
Is me.
I’ve been beat
And my only strategy
Is retreat.

No marks on my body
Yet beaten nevertheless
Scarred yet one more time
By the harsh world that rejects everyone
Yet reserves some hate for those
Who refuse to be “everyone”
Those who refuse to refuse
People in need
Those not so consumed
By greed
That they think
“you, but only after me.
And then, only maybe.”
Those not wrapped up in themselves and their deeds
Those not passionate in their apathy.

But I do refuse.
I do refuse to become yet another drone,
One made dizzy by the world
And the overwhelming stink of its cologne
Of contented stagnation
Of apathetic resignation
Of defeat.

We think we are progressing,
Human beings.
But until we learn that progress
Doesn’t mean getting more things
And that the things to which we cling
Do not more substance bring,
We are doomed to perpetuate
This cycle of indifference
While we congratulate
Ourselves, ignoring our hopelessly shallow footprints.

Just going through the motions
Rise.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
Breathe in..
Breathe out..
Sleep…
Repeat.
I won’t accept defeat
Does that make me an outcast?
If the shoe fits…
I guess I’ll wear it.
And walk in it every day
Because I would rather walk every day
In those shoes not accepted by society
Than be crippled by
Conformity.
So while everyone else is bedridden
And on oxygen,
I’ll be running a marathon.
The race of life, so to speak.
So if you need me,
I’ll be out, living unashamedly.
See you at the finish line.