Can I Escape the Prison of Myself?

Can I escape the prison of myself
how did I get in this skin of wretchedness
without end
I cannot fly as I desire
I flounder on the ground
like a wounded dog
what price glory for my god self
joy and pain
without end
it marks the brain
so much joy
so much sadness
there is no escape
alter the mind
drown in sex
does not suffice
as Nathan said
to satisfy the angst
shattered cultural strivings
to live to die
what does either matter
if the revolution comes or not
the living masses shall endure
survive somehow
through it all
they shall survive
they may run
cross many borders
children in hand
plastic bags of clothing
children's toys
teddy bear of joy
fleeing to some camp in the desert
far away from home
home
an illusion
no real peace
no life
no love
only the ritual of the stunted man and woman
children deprived of true love
freedom apart from slavery politics
dreaded secret police on every corner
listening to cell phones
reading mail
following you down the street
coming into the rest room when you piss
what life is this
no jobs
only beer hall brawls
stress
Friday prayers a small release
at least on Friday the stunted man stands tall
deep in belief faith
suddenly walking across the road to the path beyond fear
fear of death
yes, the only fear worth overcoming
only then can we live
transcend the tanks, planes, destruction of homes, mosques
tombs of holy men
scholars and warriors
sufi dancers
who whirled through the ages with truths beyond all religions
who danced around the poles and then without poles to execute truth
beyond the simple idea of life in the box
the life of fools
caught in religiosity
tradition
myth and ritual of no advancement.

We arrive at the precipice with bags in hand
crossing over with nothing but hope for a better day
with hope we need nothing
just leap across the border with patience and faith.
Time is the monster god
time shall out live the demons in our midst
detractors of life itself
we cannot understand the nature of their destruction
how can humans be so cruel
this is beyond money power greed lust
there is no understanding of this madness
Why would you destroy your nation
or have you transcended nationalism into some other paradigm
we cannot understand
perhaps you know something we don't know
something superior
beyond this world of human understanding.
--Marvin X
9/21/12