What We Were Promised as Men

We were promised that our work

would ensure ascension.

We were promised that if we become

better than others,

we would be safe.

We were promised

that failure to provide

extraordinary extrinsic value

means we might as well be dead.

We were told we could buy love,

if we made enough money,

whereas in the past,

we could just kidnap it

by horseback riding.

We were told to work hard, 

create families, own homes,

and be happy, 

but the numbers

just don’t add up.

We were promised a dying sunset

of a dream, and if we look

at things wrongly,

there is a lot of despair

to feel, and therefore,

a life not well lived.