Poem by Michaël Lessard 1988, at Quebec High School, Grade 5. Slightly corrected in 1998.

This is one of my first real efforts to write, therefore it's not perfect.

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A Hell of a Box

I feel trapped by the system, as if stuck in a box of principles.

Each wall representing different parts of our life.

One wall is what we feel forced to do: our duties.

To the other side, is the wall of personal desires and aspirations.

Another wall is the laws, the education,

all those little rules that can make life so miserable.

Opposite to this, is what we make of it, the problems we create for ourselves.

On top is the ceiling of beliefs and of the inner soul.

Below us, is the evil that reeks in all of us.

At times, I feel as if some of the walls close in on me

as if trying to finish me off.

Some people try to escape by putting an end to their life,

but all they do is push the walls away

to let space for their now decomposing bodies.

Others try to ignore the walls,

but the walls are patient and stare at you waiting for your awakening.

As for me, I sometimes try to reach a perfect state of levitation,

and try not to touch the walls.

Also in my dreams I escape and soar off to the skies and fly seemingly forever,

but the cycle of life continues and I crash in the sea;

and die in the dark of the ocean of the forgotten ones.

But the only way is to stare these walls right in the eyes until they blink,

and only then will they seem almost transparent,

and allow you to take a step out of this over-realistic world.

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* Copyright - The text above cannot be used in whole or in part without the consent of Michaël Lessard responding to miclesgeo[at]yahoo.com or 1-418-254-6448 (no.225). If both the e-mail and phone number fail, this means I have died and you must ask the living person in charge of my belongings (refer to the Quebec-Canada government).