Conditioned

My body is not conditioned in a strong and fit way. It’s conditioned to do. I am conditioned to walk away. To walk away from the forest, the ocean, and the wild, to return to the indoors. I’m conditioned to return indoors even if I can’t breathe Eve if outside I felt free I return home. We are conditioned to value home above all. Everyone needs a home. Everything is temporary but home is constant. How stifling this is. No matter where I go that I may breathe freely and smile I must return to my home To a house with closed windows and fluorescent lights To people who scoff when I stare into nothing To a place I am now myself To a place I cannot be true My mind in its rawest form is the ocean. It is the trees and the rain and sandy shore I’m conditioned to built a little robot around my spirit so that I may walk among the other robots All who have learned to love their disguise. I am conditioned to be what they want to see. I am conditioned to be caged.