Public Enemy

I lived within those walls over there

The ceiling - they called it “sky”

They said, “The Maker creates order

Why would you bother asking ‘why?’”

Daily happy music resounded

From speakers placed on each street

Day in and day out - nothing new

Everything positioned so nice and neat

The houses there were all alike

So eloquently symmetrical

Clichés & memes filled the air

No space for anything dialectical

But curiosity goaded me anyhow

“What is this Being within this skin?”

“Tis’ selfish to ask,” they gnarled,

“It might lead thee to sin!”

I travelled till I could go no further

Where I saw a hidden door

I opened it and to my surprise

Was a world I’d never known before

Fruits of the trees tasted sweeter

Than those which I grew accustomed 

I looked back and asked myself

“How could I ever again trust them?”

Then, I felt sad and thought with hope,

“Perhaps, I can show them what I’ve found!

If they could see the sky, hear the wind,

Feel the soles of their feet on the ground!”

Gleefully, I returned with a sample of dirt

Holding it out everywhere I turned

They recoiled in fear, not understanding

Nor appreciating all that I had learned

I heard a cry, “He has become possessed!

His disease could disrupt this place!”

Still, I looked for one to lend an ear

But, everyone I met turned their face.

The people in the streets crowded together

Unwilling to bear such a stain as I

“Get out!  Get out!” They screamed!

“Go thee forth with thy ‘grander sky’”

The Leaders kept the people back

Blocking their view from what I had found

As I opened the door to leave for good

The speakers played their hushing sound.