The American Dream?

Why is it not ok to dream?
Is it only cute until 17?
And with a coming of age it becomes
Laughable, punishable, irresponsible…
Now I'm full grown and must follow
The Path.
Don't you know?
The one we all must follow as all our dreams, goals, and fantasies are
funneled through to one narrow strand stretching and stretching out until finally you are left with nothing but the desire that has been beaten into your mind since you were past the age of dreaming and into the stage of getting.
Taking more and more,
doing everything we do for just one thing.
We work towards it, lose sleep for it, surrender everything that makes us pure and young and sweet for it.
But tell me.
Why can't dreams be the currency we seek?
Why do we struggle so much for something so corrupt. Something that does nothing, doesn't love, contribute, or comfort.
Why isn't success based on happiness or health or the little things?
Why did school have to change from playground to factory?
Pumping out the same corrupted beings
setting forth to take and get as much as they can.
Hoarding it all until they die, rich but unsuccessful, fat but not happy, powerful but oh so weak.
This common need turning everyone the same brown color swirling like mud together losing sight of what we need or want
Why have we been made so dependent
I know there is more
I am not limiting my opportunities.
I am closing no doors.
I am only living a life in pursuit of a different success than you see
I am not a disappointment.
I am not giving up.
I am more successful than you, he, or she
will ever be.