escape

inside you have routine,
familiar faces and activities,
an expectation -- if ever so dull --
of what tomorrow brings.

once outside it's nice for a year or two,
you can enjoy the sun and sky.
but losing an edge breeds complacency,
and to survive you must be paranoid.

emotional bars replace physical ones,
as you're forced to abandon loved ones.
you come to the soul-crushing realization
none of your dreams will ever come true.

the pain inside comes from know you can't,
and outside from knowing you never will.
it's true i've busted out,
but i've gained anything but freedom.