Machine

"... eroding all that makes you strong,
until the spark of life is gone."


From the moment of our first breath,
until the sweet release of death,
we are taught to serve and please,
sacrifice to other’s greed.
To be seen, not to be heard,
silent, still - not another word,
no behavior outside the norm,
private thought - maligned and torn.
Parental types and teachers smile,
preparing us to join the pile,
and once we’re groomed out of our dreams
they proudly feed us… to the Machine.

Government, business - organized faith,
mass produce spiritual rape,
combined into this Trinity,
they serve their egos selfishly.
They grease the wheels of servitude,
piece by piece destroying you,
eroding all that makes you strong,
until the spark of life is gone.
Trap you in the daily grind,
eradicating the heart and mind,
assuring you can’t eat or breathe
unless you go… though the Machine

They offer toys at the right price.
keeping us preoccupied,
for if we’re tranced we will not see
the tearing down of liberties.
Thin-green-line’s been worn away,
a slave’s a slave no matter where placed,
the gap’s more narrow than you thought,
‘tween those who have - and who have not.
The choice is there, not half but whole,
have less from them - retain your soul,
live on the fringe and be truly free
or grab success… and die in the Machine.

Original Copyright © 2007 Stone Bryson. All Rights Reserved.
Written October 2007
About Stone...
Known in many (albeit small) online circles over the past 15 years, Stone Bryson is a poet, storyteller, and essayist. He is working on various writing projects, and lives what he describes as an 'analog life.' He resides in Jackson County, Missouri.