To conform is to lie to yourself,
To suck the joy out of this finite life.
It was never meant to be locked in a cage,
It was never meant to be stuffed in a box
Shrouded behind impenetrable walls
That blot out the sun and what lay beyond.
That is not living, it is merely subsisting.
Yet this is what our fears, our parents, our cultures preach,
Conform or you will be treated as an outcast.
Well then…perhaps an outcast is what I long to be.
~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~
Dom DiFrancesco 
Well said Dom, well said! And I couldn’t agree with you more! I absolutely love this one because it speaks to me.
I’m so glad Shelby. I find it horrible that to be accepted one must conform to societal norms, it makes for a very bland society indeed. 🙂
Or what we need to be! A great poem!
Yes indeed. 🙂
Well said… going along with the crowd isn’t always a great thing, especially if we yearn to be something else.
You are absolutely correct, that is how I see it as well. Thanks for the nice comment my friend. 🙂
Thank you — well said
Thank you very much for saying so. 🙂
That’s what I want if that is the price of being myself, then bring it on.
Me too. 🙂
Right there with you, Dom. This is a beautiful truth…something for everyone to see in themselves.
Thank you so much Carrie, I appreciate the kind comment. 🙂
I really enjoyed this!
I’m glad, thank you so much. 🙂