The Path I Have Chosen Poem by Mustafa Marconi

This is my journey
The path I have chosen
It burdens me to continually rise above
Never looking down at anyone
Challenging me to disdain mediocrity
And strive for excellence
Not content to bring up the rear
Even if it is the best I can do
This is my voyage
My take on this gift I’ve been given
It inspires me to look through the myriads of discolored walls
Into the cracks and cervices covered with lies and deceptions
And siphon out what is truly relevant… truly significant
Gather up the omissions; the purposely twisted and manipulated
The blatant misrepresentations and distortions
With eyes reasonably opened, and uncommon sense
And distinguish the truth from the lies; life from death
Reinforcing my position, as the ultimate outsider
Free from the bonds of social and political servitude
Free to be me,
This is my journey
The battle ground I have chosen
Refusing to serve the God of our oppressors
The God of money and power…, of anger and retribution
Watching spiritually handcuffed prisoners of war
Marching to the altar, seeking salvation
Content with mediocrity; satisfied with bringing up the rear
As the souls of our ancestors continue to grow restless and concerned
Their immense sacrifices all but forgotten
Behind the diversions of materialism, greed and false patriotism
Working so hard to fit right in
To be part of a solution
We have compromised our collective integrity
And sentenced future generations to an inhuman amount
Of hard labor, sacrifice, ignorance, and intellectual poverty
This is my journey
To walk the earth free of fear
Bolstered by faith I search diligently for truth
Cognizant of the gifts I’ve been given
For this is the path that I have consciously chosen