If you live in a dream state long enough,
the surreal becomes ordinary
and nightmares are normal.
You get used to what once repelled you,
and nothing is shocking anymore.
Exiled from the City
Exiled from the city,
or as I see it, set free.
I can’t be robbed of what I don’t want
and they have nothing I need.
Pointless toil and delusions of grandeur
to distract from the ennui.
They can’t remember their own faces
or the words to any creed.
Down there in the city,
they give it all at once every night.
They all think they cannot lose
and everyone will sell for the right price.
But I am not so easy to please
and I have no appetite
for anything I see or hear or taste.
I know what’s behind those lights.
Outside of the city,
though I don’t know where I am.
But if I stayed there just one more night,
I’d forget how to die like a man.
The mob wants to see blood flow
and have their games go on as planned.
I’m not going to live and die like that.
I am low, but I will stand.
Out of the city
Out of the line
Giving them no more
Taking what’s mine
This is freedom
Copyright (C) 2012 by Eric Landuyt
'Living in Dreams,' reminds me thematically of Emily Dickinson's 'Had I not seen the sun I could have borne the shade.' It's a good concept, but one many people are already familiar with. Regarding that, I'd condense the poem, since at least the last two lines reiterate what's already implied.
ReplyDelete'Exiled from the city' is very powerful in the statement it makes. Just maybe focus on the rhyme scheme... it's hard to tell if it's meant to be consistent or not.