Bro, I Told You I Contain Multitudes

I wish I was a stranger who just rolled into town
Or some great educator whose word were profound
I wish I could accept the present for the gift it is
Wish I could envision a future beyond apocalypse

I wish I was an outlaw or at least a decent an
An activist chained to some tree taking my stand
Or a monk in meditation, or patiently waiting for a savior
But I will probably die on the search to meet my maker

I am more than all of these
I piece together identities
But I am me
Whatever that means

I wish I could get sober, I wish I was a drunk
I wish I hadn't thought half the things that I have thunk
I wish I could be born again, start over anew
I wish that all these lists would stop tellin' me what to do

I wish my wild side would more often bare its teeth
I wish I could see beyond my own biases
Wish my old soul had been born in a different time
When my view wasn't ruin by incessant advertisments

I desire the extremes
But I wake up in this reality
Where I am me
What does that mean?

I wish I had some heritage deserving of some pride
But all I got is shopping malls built on genocide
I wish I could feel what freedom really means
Beyond the demonstration of desperation I have seen

I wish my guarded heart would let all its love unleash
Wish I could fill this void that never seems to cease
Wish my raised fist of rage made any difference
I wish a better world didn't always feel so distant

I am more than all of these
Desires and scraps of dreams
I am me
What that means tends to change
May I never be complete