Synthetic Surge

Dust settles on the rearview mirror frame Every road behind me looks

the same

People tell me where I ought to run

To find a place beneath a brighter sun

They draw out maps in heavy shades of gray And try to

chart the steps I ought to take

Saying I must trace the paths they paved To find the redemption

that they saved.

Voices fill the silence like a crowd Telling me to shout my

name out loud

Whispering I have to prove my worth To earn my tiny corner

of this earth.

I used to think I had to run the race And keep

up with the shadows in this place I thought I had to

bleed to heal the scar Or climb a tower just to reach

a star They say I need to justify my truth Or trade

away the morning of my youth To buy a peace that I

can hold onto Now I know I don't need to.

The clock ticks loud against the quiet wall Expecting me to answer

every call To build an altar out of praise and pride And

hide the simple parts I keep inside They ask for signatures upon

the line To validate the turning of my time As if my

heartbeat requires a permit stamp Or a blessing from a fading streetlamp.

Let the noise fall quiet at the door

I am not the servant to the score No debt to pay,

no trial left to stand No standard left to answer on command

I am whole within the space I take With every quiet choice

I get to make.

No explanations owed to anyone

No endless marathon

that must be won They say I have to run until I'm

blue

I don't need to.