i want to talk to you about how they frightened us
when we were still innocent, in awe of this world
        the truth, about how our parents were victims too
and perpetrators, just like we are bound to be,
just like our children will be too        like they lied
to protect, led us blindly, shaped us in their image
and likeness        i know it doesn't matter, for we all
soon will be parts of this uncontrollable machine
which surrounds us, feeding us corpses and ghosts,
relentlessly        but i want you to remember, though
it matters not, since we always forget: we were not the
builders        we were born inside it, so long ago,
for longer still, so many generations        the machine
the system | the circle | the order | the pyramid
the womb | the stage | our world
they frightened us, like the others, they divided us
they separated us, they segregated us, they labeled us
as if we were numbers or colorful pawns
like pawns they sculpted us, with much force,
shaped crowns and helmets and hats and they
carved us deeply, know this, with terror and violence
and deceit, know this, they did it more than once
they carved weapons in our hands
        and, slowly, they made us slayers, with
words of deceit that hid the truths we always knew
        but you don't remember, i know, our roots
that our materials do not differ
        and that the same chaos makes our bodies move
forwards and together, with passion and desire
        and you say you have not forgotten
but i know you all have, because they changed the words
one night, and by dawn they hanged our poets,
        for they would not obey their laws
the machine! the machine! tentacles, nets, gears
and flesh of slaves hold it all together, but the
machine, it is an idea!                and I talk, on and on,
but you won't understand        they scared you
and now you prefer silence, peace
even though voices reach us through the clatter
of metal        from time to time         you do not
hear them?        yes, no one is screaming
why would anyone scream?        the tumult
of gears crashing bones, the tentacles that drain
blood, the bony webs that crackle are but a melody
        i frighten you too, i guess, against my will
let us be silent once more