Choosing Our Own Fate

Choosing Our Own Fate
© Surazeus
2025 05 21

I try to focus on the little things 
adjusted carefully in each glass case 
in the Great American Museum 
of Domestic Tranquility to showcase 
my privileged place in story of our state 
defined by the random choices of fate. 

While eating orange I stole from Tree of Life, 
I lounge in park among wind-rustled leaves 
beneath tall statue of William the Silent 
to honor independence of the mind 
from all controlling tyrants of the state 
who dare think they can legislate our fate. 

I mean to tell about my life at home 
with solemn voice of the brave mocking bird, 
but my heart sprouts wings and will tend to roam 
across the ancient landscape of the Earth 
where people fight to establish the state 
so they can pretend they control their fate. 

The fact that I am related to both 
General Robert Edward Lee and John Brown 
defines ambiguous nature of being 
programming cultural code of my mind 
which operates how I function in my state 
though I swim against empire tides of fate. 

If I analyze my relationships 
with my family through quaint fairy tales 
I might present in well-masked characters 
ancient forces of social theater 
which form foundation of our global state 
while I perform roles that defy my fate. 

Or I could satirize with timeless gods 
contemporary leaders of vast nations 
who wrestle that angel whom Israel fought 
to balance freedom of the individual 
with public interest of the faceless state 
by enforcing laws that equalize fate. 

Though I attempt to fictionalize my life 
in tradition of college writers workshops, 
instead I sing about global events 
in tradition of wandering troubadours 
to record chronicles of the world state 
which moralize weird principles of fate. 

This face-mask from the ancient gallery, 
I wear while chanting arcane prophecies, 
reflects the psychic mind of Everyman 
through mirror of the television screen 
to rationalize blind functions of the state 
that we enforce by choosing our own fate.