Real Life

When you have no luck.

“In the real world…”

“...if this was your job,

you would’ve been fired.”

But, if this was my job,

I would’ve quit.

“Quit playing games,

you don’t get paid for it.”

I don’t get paid for school work.

“You get a certificate.”

“How about you come here,

where you can study.

Or do you want to stay home,

because here you can’t play?”

Well, if that’s the case,

I would never stay home.

It’s not because of games,

it’s because of you.

“It’s not even that much work,

you could finish it in weeks.”

But do you know what I do,

when I don’t do your work?

I try my hardest,

to not give myself up.

I’d never do your work,

if I get to live a bit longer.

Those breathing train tracks,

I could pay them a visit.

The warmth of the rails,

would bless my cold heart.

Yet you always say,

“If this was real life…”

Well is this not real enough?

Or is your own life so miserable?

Perhaps your life is so tragic,

that your sense of realism

needs more to be full,

like a tolerance to a drug..

Look at yourself.

Old, dying, alone.

Stuck in this sad school,

for others who also failed.

You’ve humiliated me,

and stripped me of my dignity.

You do this to me,

so you’d feel a drop better.

But like you’ve said,

this is the real world.

No matter how hard you try,

you can never escape.

Real life isn’t fun

looking at your life.

But real life can be nice,

you only need luck.

If this was real life,

I would be asleep.

If this was real life,

I would never wake up.

Why would I do your work,

if I’m going to die so soon.

Author's Note

Any feedback is appreciated.

Reviews

[Liz]

I found this to be very interesting. I am definitely sensing some resentment throughout the poem. Sometimes we have to see life through someone else's eyes, even if it isn't what we agree with.

Life is rough, and we don't always get what we want, but this IS the real world, so I suppose we make the most of it.