Too Big to Flail

One learns, with luck, leaves the pattern, becomes unstuck And glimpses beyond the cheap thin walls put up by those who lived in fear Sees the shining sun, then concedes that some things he's done Caused pain and perhaps he sees how he hurt someone For an instant, his mind is clear Everybody makes mistakes; almost no one ever wakes Like balloons that are too full of air and never will land Occasionally, and not often gracefully An inmate escapes for good and begins to be a force acting on its own Perhaps he begins to tell others why they don't feel so well It's because they don't know how to think about themselves And never will be shown Everyone who hears, take heart: you don't have to be a part Of a system that's too big to flail as it crumbles to sand Preparing for trials that don't matter, succeeding in meaningless trades Betrayed by those holding the ladder, promoted to falling on grenades Or trampled by victory parades Mouth open, eyes closed, awaiting a moron's command Everyone who knows, take heart: you don't have to be a part Of a nightmare where peace and destruction walk hand in hand