Scribbled down a rhythm poem - thought to post it out here, I think it's better read aloud, and maybe faster - the tone and voice relaying its own story - but for now, I just post its words:
Is this really all life is to be
A game of moments, a gamble
Everyday we open our eyes
And with open arms start our lives
We start off proudly until we scramble
We stay quiet, make sure no one can see
The struggles we keep within
The voices that keep us from opening
We silently just keep on searching
Is life such a job, such hard work to live
To measure and keep track of all that we give
To balance the sheet, not trust too much
Try to keep a distance but think 'stay in touch'
Be careful with our words, not say too much
Not reach out for we will hurt
Not love because we've been burnt
Anxious and alone, we cover ourselves with armor
Try to not forget, to never let the hurt go
To never shed tears, or let all the demons show
We fall into judgment
We start picking sides
Our soul we start to fragment
From each other we hide
Alone we move, always keeping an eye out
For we've learnt the hard way
That love is not what this world about
We start to run, in hard moments never stay
We bind ourselves down
And plaster smiles on our faces
Kindness is our weakness
And being guarded will win the races
Cause to yourself you must keep
Cos that's what they say its about
Care too hard, and alone you weep
And we all resign ourselves
Never reach out, or stay in the darkness
As we watch each other come crashing down
And with these thoughts we spread around
Slowly plague all those who still hold on
We live in norms, in safe places
Anywhere we can maintain these spaces
Running non stop, just keep going slowly insane
Fighting so hard, this battle with our souls in vain.
No, this is not what life should be
We need to slow down and just breathe
So much energy, in separating we have spent
And soon we won't even have the time to repent
Need to stop from each other moving
In the end we're all just losing
Waiting for some other day to make amends
I know my words will fade,
Its hard to change the way we're made
I am but a ripple in the water
I am getting hurt hard just as any other
But this cannot be the answer
And all these protections we build
And all these conversations we avoid
Silences with which we try to counter our void
And all these hearts with all they are filled
We need to give them a voice
To reclaim our power to make a choice
Stop trying to step on each other to get ahead
We aren't living if inside we feel so dead
We need to open our eyes and hearts alike
Do what we know, what we feel is right.
Before the only thing that slows us down
Is the final toll of the bell, the very last sound
..before we fall finally into the ground.
- RKS
