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 
— and long shadows.