jellyfish

we hardly brush the surface--
in this thimble-housed existence--
losing all to custom and convention
to law and dread and consternation

yielding up the truth to God--
we seek the great approving nod
from people who mean beans to us--
yet beg them to preside

giving over what we are
to forms and forces never seen--
to bogus rules and patent lies--
we die before we learn to dream

what is it in our nature then
that makes such jellyfish of men?