By Lyuba Singh
I.
Smile
for the journey
that begins today.
Fly
to the sun
innocence of age.
Run
through their maze
hungry for appraise.
March
in the direction
commanded by rank.
Trudge
up the path
of hundreds before.
Open gates
eagerly await.
A soul, born
to fly, is crawling
to its cage.
II.
Smile
for today
is the last day.
The sky shrinks.
All paths end.
Life
incarcerated by
gold.
Work, Eat, Sleep;
Repeat.
Over and over
for some change.
The wheel
continues to turn.
Body weakens.
Mind numbs.
Eyes don’t see
the pattern anymore.
Grey hairs pull
fate close.
Free
you were, yet
freedom you sought.
Free
at last, from
this cage.
Free
you are, in
your coffin today.