Free Will Poem

Author's note: This was originally on my Life of Pi page as a response, but I wanted to get a little more feedback. This poem is mimicking the style of Jonathan Reed's "A Lost Generation". It's supposed to tell a story reading it normally, then the opposite story reading it backwards, line by line.

Jonathan Reed's "A Lost Generation"

I am part of a lost generation

and I refuse to believe that

I can change the world

I realize this may be a shock but

“Happiness comes from within.”

is a lie, and

“Money will make me happy.”

So in 30 years I will tell my children

they are not the most important thing in my life

My employer will know that

I have my priorities straight because

work

is more important than

family

I tell you this

Once upon a time

Families stayed together

but this will not be true in my era

This is a quick fix society

Experts tell me

30 years from now, I will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of my divorce

I do not concede that

I will live in a country of my own making

In the future

Environmental destruction will be the norm

No longer can it be said that

My peers and I care about this earth

It will be evident that

My generation is apathetic and lethargic

It is foolish to presume that

There is hope.

Now read this poem backwards, line by line.

My Poem

We have no free will.

I will never agree that

we can do what we want.

I say

There will forever be limitations.

They say

The world is free to express itself.

It is not true.

We must follow guidelines for an orderly  environment.

This is a lie;

We can make our own decisions, right or wrong.

I know that.

People control themselves.

Wrong.

We are controlled by the government and its rules and laws.

Some tell me

We can do whatever we so choose.

Unbelievable.

They claim

Not a person but yourself can make you do anything.

No.

"Can anyone truly make us do anything"?

I will continue to question

If

We have a choice

But we don't.

They say we have to be a certain way.

Not true:

We make the call.

I think

We don't decide.

This much is false:

Our minds can never be commanded by anyone other than ourselves.

Really,

We are controlled.

I will never believe that

Free will exists.

Now read this backwards, line by line.