Tuesday, November 5, 2024

The American Dream by Skaja Evens

It’s a damn challenge to not give in. Do not give up, either.

Trying to keep it together to appear moderately functional in an extraordinary life in a world that would rather beat you down to keep you beige and mediocre.

The exceptional are occasionally revered until they dare step out of line. Then they are forgotten as quickly as discovered. And attention moves to the Next Big Thing.

Unless you can be exploited for ratings, devoid of entertainment value.
Anything for a quick buck.

My heart hurts a lot, trying to find my own way.
I’ve never fit into the compartment this world demands of me.

The self-proclaimed gurus will sell you something they don’t really have. Dressed up in pretty imagery where you, too, can have the life they advertise for only four payments of more money than you’ll ever see in a lifetime.

Surely your future happiness is worth going into debt for someone else’s half-baked opinions. Just give up anything that makes right now worth living, and you’ll afford the life of your dreams!

While those in power laugh behind closed doors, brainstorming ways to squeeze blood from a stone.

I am in so much pain. But so is everyone else, so who cares, right?
There are plenty that have it worse than me.
Suck it up, buttercup, and fall in line.
You’re nothing special, and if you can’t pick up the slack, we’ll find someone to take your place.

Be that machine cog and be grateful for any morsel of happiness.

What a joke, yeah?

Pay attention to who’s laughing.

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Skaja Evens is a Best of the Net-nominated writer living in SE Virginia. Her work has appeared in Medusa's Kitchen, The Rye Whiskey Review, Synchronized Chaos, Mad Swirl, Spillwords Press, Ink Pantry, Blue Pepper, among others. Her first book, conscientia veritatis, from Whiskey City Press, is available on Amazon.