I wore the hat, the coat, the uniform.
In becoming them, I became myself.
The year I learned to knot my school tie
I learned the meaning of bullshit.
Lesson learned—bullshit could be turned
To shield and sword out in the world.
Others I could photocopy and pickpocket.
Thus, combined of mineral dust
I clambered lightwards to the day.
Beggar bird, I set to play.
Shards of glint plucked from lampblack,
Mined from lunar rock, from lack.
Others live life as difference
Without the clamouring within,
But some of us, to begin,
Have to scrape and scrabble
Our mosaic, our lonely shambles.