Transparent Life Poem by Raj Dronamraju

We are the goldfish in the bowl
We are known as Mr. and Mrs. Goldfish
I don't mind this transparency, a benign surveillance

I often feel like I am living life backwards
I am carefree and light of spirit and open minded in post middle-age
But was angry and bitter and filled with resentment in my teens and 20's

We swim around in the goldfish bowl
Oblivious to the thoughts and opinions of others
Whose sole source of entertainment is watching us live out our days in the goldfish bowl

From your polluted corner of a smudged and vile universe
Peer into the fish tank and see how good my life is
Yours is processed food, traffic jams, and Internet addiction