The Conveyor Belt

in walking along a lonely path

I followed everyone to avoid wrath

a conveyor belt it transformed into

dreadful attacks following specific cues

looking back, I witnessed first

infants branded to avoid being cursed

brought up with rituals and beliefs

tempted by Easter eggs and Christmas wreaths

soon after they learned to walk

the belt gained momentum like a rolling rock

until books and bags weighed them down

removed from each of them their personal crowns

as they progressed, those books became anchors

their eyes and thoughts became dark behind doors

looking around at others and caught up in lies

internal flames extinguished by the product of cries

free-flowing garments were replaced by gray

and need of liquid stimulation to survive the day

whiskers began to sprout more frequently

all the sitting accrued the skin on their bodies

the next stop came after the search for another

where they tied themselves with the help of a conner

forming triangles, squares, pentagons, and more

by sprouting out sides from their conjoined cores

those extra sides attached them to the belt

using secular obligation and bonds heartfelt

the belt rolled on still carrying its prisoners

the sides grew legs and left each other

freedom was ironic for those at this stage

their skin falling in clumps began to form a cage

their time was filled with laced cards and aged paper

until breath escaped from skin and stiffness from posture

Reviews

[Cyndy Robinson]

Great poem. Right up my ally. My thoughts are 5th stanza needs work, lost the flow. Something off in last two lines as well. I would have said get rid of paper but its working with posture. Just needs a little finessing to me. But its great, and keep threatening to write one about the robotic nature of today's society, which I think this expresses.

[stargirl23]

Ok I'll take another look at it, thanks!

[Emily]

Very nice poem!!
Keep it up!

[stargirl23]

Thank you!