The Story of Me

I started out as a quiet boy

So my teachers thought I was dumb 

But I was just sitting and watching

And working it out, rule of thumb

I was difficult and misunderstood

And I could talk for hours about comets -

Long before high school

And writing crushes rubbish sonnets

I was angry and I was confused

And when I played video games 

If I couldn’t beat that final boss

I’d throw the controller in a rage

And look in the mirror and cry

And slap my face 

And wish I would just fucking die;

What a disgrace

I was stuck in an unhappy home 

Full of rage and retaliation - 

It was a microcosm 

Of this place we call our nation,

Where knives glistened ‘neath

Fluorescent lights

And words were cut so sharp

And tinged with such clever poison

They would stay within your heart 

And school was like some primal jungle

Where animals did roam -

The snakes, the bears, the unawares

And the girls in their mean ivory thrones

I wore my heart on my sleeve 

And I just did not understand

Why reaching out in kindness

Left me with a blistered hand

That boy was cheeky, and that boy

Was clever. I loved that boy, I knew him,

And I can still see him 

Out in rainy weather

He’s wearing a dark-blue raincoat

And the rain feels good on his skin

And I’m telling him: It’s not your fault

And he says, It’s a long game, but

I’ll win