Polaris
Nostalgic for Sentience’s Absence
By William Mullin
Volume 2 Issue 2
November 19, 2021
Original photography from William Mullin
Remember when you were little?
And when you were happy, you laughed
And when you were sad, you cried
Why don’t you do that anymore?
Just because of arbitrary self-restrictions
Or other’s expectations, I suppose
Remember what it felt like?
To be free of self-consciousness
Unknown to the crowd
Why don’t you think like that anymore?
Too aware now and I’m a mess
Imbued with “social anxiety”
Unfortunate that now you can’t even be free with yourself
Simplicity dies, and overwhelming thought takes over
Each choice, no matter how small, needs contemplation
Each conversation requires active consideration
A shame that nothing can be simply what it is
A pity that everything will never be how it was
I miss it.
Both for you and for me.