The Rat Race
By Josh Rittenhouse

Breathe that air,
Open those eyes,
Eat your first meal,
Sleep your first sleep.

Learn to roll,
Learn to crawl.
Learn to sit,
Learn to talk.

Stand for the first time,
Take that first step,
Use that fork,
Use that cup.

Ask your questions,
Learn from others,
Laugh when things are funny,
Cry when things hurt.

Go to school,
Meet new faces,
Make new friends,
Do that homework!

The pace continues,
Friends come and go,
Death makes it's appearances,
Life does as well.

Older now,
Stay in school,
Meet the girl,
Part from the girl.

Finished now,
Time for college,
Study hard,
Finish first.

Get that job,
Meet your one,
Marriage next,
Happiness?

Slave life away,
Children come,
Provide, provide, provide,
Save every cent.

Older now,
Children are gone,
Flew from the nest,
Still slaving for what?

The children have children,
They are running their race,
Years pass like minutes,
Time marches on.

Learn to die now,
Lay in that hospital bed,
Take that medication,
Learn to not be afraid.

The end is there,
Life flashes and flickers,
This rat race is over,
Was it really worth running?