hemlock170374

Look at the people you know,
people you really or barely know
and tell me honestly what you think.
How many of them
are really trying to be something sincerely new
and how many of them
are just busy trying to forget themselves?
How many know what to say and how to say it
when you call them
and how many are just caught dumbfounded
when you look for them,
surprised that you might want to disturb
their attempts at reaching oblivion?
How many could you trust with your children
and how many you would never call anymore
if you would leave the country?
How many among us
have been thoroughly and properly brainwashed
into believing that believing is ridiculous
and how many still think that they should change the world?
How many are interested in listening
and how many are just afraid of what you are going to say?
How many can you be yourself with
and how many stop being your friends
if you decide to change the color of your clothes?

I want to live my life with my eyes open
but how many want that, too
and how many are just always, always afraid of that?