Inside the Space and Outside the House
By James Tian
There’re only two kinds of people in this world:
Those inside the house, dancing in warmth,
And those outside, watching but unable to do anything,
Leaving in a cold and hungry style…
Inside, people grew restless with boredom,
So at some point, a rule was set—
Every cycle, the “host” of the house would change.
Outside, people shivered in hunger,
Until someone noticed—
Watching the inside folk switch “host”,
Was oddly thrilling, even uplifting.
So the crowd outside grew, watching and waiting…
From the windows, the insiders saw the gathering outside,
And it gave their boredom a peculiar kind of relief.
They slipped paper scraps through the door crack,
Each marked with the names of those within,
Calling it a chance for the outsiders to “elect”.
And from time to time, leftovers from the feast inside,
Would be tossed out,
Becoming the ultimate prize for those in the cold.
At that moment, the ones outside forgot about the wall before them,
While those inside found yet another way to amuse themselves.
In truth, the “ownership” of the house,
Was never really in question.
The insiders never saw the outsiders as having a say,
Yet the ones outside—stuffing their choices through the door crack—
Began to believe they’re the true “host” of the house…
Inside and outside,
Two worlds that barely touch.
Yet “perception” stretches the confidence of those outside,
Into the space within.
And so, when the insiders draw the curtains, seal the cracks,
The outsiders cry, “That’s injustice! The emperor’s new clothes!”
But when the curtains are lifted, the door left ajar,
The outsiders cheer, “That’s freedom! The miracle of white doves!”
The last names inside the house,
Have never truly changed.
But the whole names outside are circling like the wind.
Yet no one asks what this house was built for,
Because the Habit will become Tradition,
The Tradition will turn into Faith,
And the Faith will grow into the Rules—
Then the Yoke is placing upon every mind that dares to turn…
