I am your clock

I am your religion

I am your shotgun mechanical bride

Nothing is done without my approval

I own you

I decide how long you sleep

And how much rest

You are ever allowed

I decide what you desire

I deny you time to think

I am the mirror of constant humiliation

That follows and shadows you

Wherever you go

And blocks out the light

At the end of every tunnel you try

Be on time

Be on schedule

Always feel

Like you're always late

And need more scolding and punishment

Do not daydream

Do not dilly-dally

Do not fall behind

Wings are flapping right behind you

You know what's coming next

As I swoop down like a hungry owl

And sink my talons into your back

And drag you back to square one again

The pain gets a little worse every time

Crash

Crumple

Do not pass go

Do not collect

Your dignity and your self respect

Give up

It's over

No time allowed

To try something you like

The bills were all due yesterday

You've failed

You're through

First we form our habits

Then they form us

We dress up as someone else every day

Gingerbreadhouses

Fireplace surprises

What tastes the best

The witches won't let you have

These days, having a baby

Is like what having a BMW used to be

While they're asleep

Play those New Age cassettes

To transmit subliminal messages

I like mom

I like school

I like to study

I like rules

I am the school teacher

Who yelled at you for not paying attention

And shame you in front of the entire class

And dragged you around the room by the hair

This is what happens to boys and girls

Whose penmanship is messy

Be neat, like the others

Follow orders

Obey what is put in front of you

Imagination is the ultimate sin

You can't be creative the rest of your life

Your counselor wants a word with you

If you liked school, you'll love work

Resign yourself to a job you'll hate

Get a hobby - but keep it in the garage

Shove yourself into a slot

Despise your ideas

Your boss knows best

We can't all do what we want to do

Always settle for what you're told to expect

Do not take chances

You might fail

You might fail

You don't want to find out the hard way

How our society treats

The misfits who make mistakes

Bad

Failure

Bad

Failure

Homeless

Depression

Mental hospitals

Murder

Born on the cutting room floor

Die in the bin by the door

Hypothermia of the spirit

Why do people chase

So many useless toys

In search of the perfect baby sitter

"For just $19.95 and just thirteen minutes of your busy day,

you can have 'the full, rich experience of parenthood

without the mess of the real thing.' It's called Video Baby."

Creative Programming, Inc., offer "All of the enjoyment -

and none of the commitment."

I am your calendar

There is no escape

I am why you're afraid

To respect yourself

I lead you down garden path after path

With carrots on a stick

I'll let you taste but never embrace

Peek in the wrong door, I slam it on your fingers

Go back

Adventure is not allowed

Go back - not allowed!

I leave you exhausted, henpecked and afraid

Never quite enough money

Never enough nerve

To reach out for something better

Than the grind you call your life

The hatch of your hamster cage is open

But guess who waits just outside the door

Stay on your treadmill

Keep running on that wire wheel

Briefcase in hand

Money rains down just out of reach

You'll burn out soon enough

It's all part of the plan

When you're no longer useful

You can finally retire

To the glue factory of your choice

Free at last

To scratch your head

Wondering what happened

Free at last

I bid you goodbye

On your own

To wait to die

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Corrected by poko666@usa.net