he walks up and down stairs
they walk round and round the track
he paces back and forth
they sweat their bodies to the limits, working out their sanity
he sits still, staring at nothing out into the distance
the seasons change
the sun comes and goes
the herds come and go
and every day it looks just like this
like a hamster running in place
trying to stay active
because if he stops
if he stops…
well he can’t think about that
and neither can they
neither can we
neither can I
although I’m aware that all they are doing
all we are doing
all I am doing
is running in circles
until my cage door opens
I may not die in this cage
I hope not
but others will
making their very bed
is a fateful metaphor
the wheel will stop
the wheel is their battery
but for now
the hamster wheel must move
because to stop…
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