An abyss,
Into which we all do fall,
First fragile feelings,
Before lights out,
Blackout,

Through an enticing gateway,
A portal to the stars,
Or so it is thought,
So it is said,
As it is unwritten,

Every soul goes in,
None emerge,
Caged in a box,
Of neat proportions tied with string,
A perfect package,
Churned out one by one,

An institution,
Of lies,
Of walls,
Barriers to meaning,
A factory,

With darkened windows,
Too afraid to expose its innards,
The horrors within,
The cogs and the leavers,
The strings and the pulleys,

Shredding thoughts,
Extinguishing sparks,
Stretching and moulding,
Every individual,
Stop,
A swear word,
A spanner in the works,
And the factory is still,
Every conformist,
Start,
Peace is restored,

Everything must rest eventually though,
Sometimes one slips through the net,
A moment of weakness,
A door left ajar,
The tiny beam of light,
A beacon of hope,

The fire escape,
The only escape,
Quick, let's get out of here,
Climb out of your box,
Clasp your brightly coloured ribbon,
The key,
Now grab my hand,
And don't look back,
We can run from all of that,
Find our own way to the stars,

Because free from the factory,
Free,
With the key,
We can delve into eternity.