When I was young
I assumed
and naively believed
every person was being good
and I lived in a 'society of angels':
people who were seeking my happiness
and their happiness
and the happiness of all people in society;

Then I experienced
people attempting to exercise power
over me
and I learned
society is currently organised
by people exercising power over people
even when it leads to people's unhappiness;

And I experienced
people attempting to exercise rule-based authority
over me,
people who expected my behaviour
to conform to rules
they create and enforce upon me,
and I learned
society is currently organised
by people enforcing rule-based authority over people
even when it leads to people's unhappiness;

I dream
of a happier society,
a society organised
by authorities and citizens
who are people seeking their own happiness
and the happiness of all people in society.