The Box

It’s a paradox    
you know      
like, catch 22      
damned if you don’t      
damned if you do      
It’s a riddle      
a Gordian knot      
a Mexican standoff      
blindfolded      
with only one shot      
     
The game is rigged      
a fix on a fix      
Can’t play by the rules      
when they wrote  
the book on tricks      
It is quite a puzzle      
to proper ponder      
to muse      
Where all roads      
are blocked      
every which way      
you choose      
     
So find me a tunnel      
or some secret      
loophole      
Build me a bridge      
to escape      
the fish bowl      
Rats in a maze      
or pawns      
on a board      
studied and played      
bought and insured      
     
They cover their bets      
those few in control      
loading the die      
predicting its roll      
Our cards are marked      
then risk assessed      
offered a part      
convinced to invest      
     
Following leaders      
who look      
fuck all like me      
Sold on the lie      
that all men are equal      
in the land of the free      
The class of the ruling      
mate,      
that ain’t you and I      
you won’t sit      
at their table      
no matter      
how hard you try      
     
Sell them your soul    
yeah, they’ll throw you      
some scraps      
smiling with gratitude      
in the face of their slaps      
as freedom goes hungry      
feels the cold      
of the night      
Poverty, a shackle      
a broke      
and bankrupt boxer      
free to starve    
or free to fight      
     
Knowledge a weapon      
in the hands      
of wrong men      
When we get close      
they move the goalposts      
time and again      
They hold all the cards      
the keys to all doors      
You need to      
bring down the house      
to even the score      
     
The game of life      
it is    
what you make it      
If you open your eyes      
you’ll see      
how they fake it      
Now that feeling      
my friend      
won’t subside  
you can’t shake it      
The absolutes      
of the box      
don’t bend,      
you gotta break it