I awoke naked and cold
in the land of shame and long shadows,
diapered in ignorance and innocence
amidst piles and piles of snow.
I sprouted naked and cold
in the land of shame and long shadows,
pursued by ignorance
amidst tender bitterness.
I grew naked and cold
in the land of shame and long shadows,
haunted by their hereditary rules
then flew the nest like a bird scorched
by a blackened Bunsen burner.
I wilted naked and cold
in the land of shame and long shadows,
became a man
lost in the ways of others.
I awoke naked and cold
in the land of someone else,
bewildered but dreaming of forgetting
the land of shame
โ and long shadows.