bother groveling

Why bother groveling? They
only beat you anyway. Chain 
your spirit, leaving body "free"
as if you had some say. As if 
free speech
without free heart 
and mind could say
a thing of worth, of
guidance or of consequence 
that's any good upon this earth. 

Why bother groveling, when
you
never
can
hit the mark they aim? It makes

no sense that you can see. You try
your best through cares and pain,
and strain and strive and break
and fail. You tried
too hard
to please

to no avail. Authority, as all approve,
is not best pleased by what
you try to do.  

It wants the groveling.
Why bother? Take the hits
that come, and see 
what's yet to come 
in being thee. 

For others will get used to it. 
Eventually, the ones who stick 
will fit.