Teachings of the Goldfish

I can sit and stare forever, at an eternally blue sky
And stare at the fish within the bowel, and ask them if they fly.

How do I know that they are in fact, the ones within the glass?
When we bind ourselves in invisible social rules,
And often miss that single chance.

We teach ourselves to stay locked away and separate from each other,
To put up walls of small talk and empty questions
So we don’t see one another.

We scare ourselves into hiding and staying locked away inside,
Into avoiding the rest of humanity,
So we can think our loneliness special, and cover it with lies.

We think that those within the confines of transparent melted sand,
Are prisoners in their own small world
And will never know the touch of freedoms hand.

But how can those fish be so carefree and content in their small bowl?
Unless they already know more than us,
And know how to truly bear their souls?

No, they may never see starry skies, they may never sky dive,
But nor will they lay up crying at night
Trapped within their own barriers and lies.

So if we are the ones with glass between ourselves and reality,
The golden fish within their bowl are the ones who are really free.

So now I’m trying live more loose,
Of social expectations and lies.
Because I have learned the secret,
Of why the goldfish seems so wise.