Many, Many Choices Poem by Richard Dates

I am my choices,
He said with fierce pride,
And listened to the voices
That served him as his guide.

He paced along the pathway
In the drab and barren courtyard,
I have many, many choices
Is what I heard him say.

For I can walk in circles
Or sit upon this bench,
Or I can change directions,
As I tread along this trench.

I have so many choices,
Which they give me here,
For I can listen to the voices
That travel to my ear,
Or pretend that I don’t hear them,
Though they chatter loud and clear.

I can sit and eat my dinner,
Which they serve me in my room,
Or watch the faint light glimmer
As it seeps into my gloom,
And listen to the voices,
Yes, I have many, many choices.

I can sleep in the deep darkness,
Or I can choose to stay awake
And stare into the emptiness,
That’s a choice that I can make,

I have many, many choices,
That’s what the voices say,
Many, many choices
Every single day,
There’s a myriad of choices
Available to me,
Many, many choices,
The cockroaches agree,
Many, many choices,
For I am truly free.

January 1999