Measure up, they say 

“Be like the others, 

it’s not that hard” 

But I see the others 

And they’re dying as much as I am, heart, body and soul

Measure up, they say 

To the ones who work now, relax later 

To the ones who we have lost, long ago 

Work and die now, 

be dead later  

Measure up, they say 

When the cup has no bottom 

and each accomplishment,  

each success 

falls into the void 

Measure up, they say 

As a projection of self 

As if saying that will solve all their problems 

as well as mine 

As if they’re not perpetuating a loop that has existed as long as we have