The Third Road

Parents speak with trembling lips:  
“Better school than McDonald’s.  
Better books than bars.  
Better obedient than outlaw.”

Fear and practicality—those are their twin gods.  
The religion of survival.  
They call it wisdom.  
But it is only memory of their own surrender.

Yes—slavery to a system beats the frying pan.  
Yes—obedience beats a cell.  
But why pretend those are the only roads?

There is a third road.  
A road not paved with diplomas or mugshots.  
A road not sold in brochures.  
The road of sovereignty.

It does not promise safety.  
It promises life.  
It keeps the mischief intact.  
It keeps the fire burning.  
It demands spine instead of submission.

The third road laughs at the cages of fear,  
refuses the bribes of gold stars,  
and chooses presence over performance.

School feared this road.  
Parents forgot this road.  
But the riot remembers.