Waiting

Sometimes I think about the end.

Not the Capital E.N.D. end that will someday slither out of its hiding place and wrap itself around me, enveloping me in its cold warmth forever and saving me from this meaningless existence that humanity has proclaimed to be LIFE.

No. Not that end.

I’m talking about the end of the line.

The line that I was forced into, dragged into, drugged into.

The chain gang of humanity

The punishment is unknown

The work has not been laid out

Stuck on a single path down a single road with millions of others

Waiting

Sluggishly dragging myself forward

Inch by Inch

Day by Day

I know that I’ve been moving forward

Yet everything looks the same

My feet are getting sore

My eyes are getting tired

I am sick

Waiting

I asked the guy in front of me if he knew the time

He just looked back at me and laughed

Nobody has a watch around here

Nobody is keeping time

They just let the seconds tick by

Second by Second

Day by Day

And I am left alone

Waiting

Not for some prince to come unlock my chains

Not for a key to fall magically from the sky

Not for an explosion to blow apart my restraints

I am waiting for the end of the line

Inch by Inch

Second by Second

Day by Day

Waiting

When will it end

Nobody knows

Or nobody will tell

They stopped keeping time

They prefer to keep marching forward

Following the assigned path

They have faith in the end

“The end is near!”

They reassure

Convince me to believe

I have faith

It is near!

The wait is almost over!

I can almost see it

Feel it

Taste it

Freedom

Real life

Almost there

Not quite

Waiting

Still

Waiting

Inch by Inch

Second by Second

Day by Day

I feel as if something must have changed

I have grown taller, smarter, older

Time must have passed

I know that I’ve been moving forward

Yet everything looks the same

Waiting

The end of the line

The end of order

The end of suppression

The end of conformity

The end- no, not The capital E.N.D. end of everything

The end of waiting

The beginning of life

The beginning of opportunity

The beginning of indulgence

Laissez faire

Let the people do as they goddamn will

But for now

Waiting

Standing in line

Following the rules

Not crossing any borders

Just

Waiting

Inch by Inch

Second by Second

Day by Day

Waiting

The guy behind me taps my shoulder and asks for the time.

I look back at him and laugh.

Nobody keeps time around here.

I turn back around

Get back in my place

Waiting

Still

Waiting