Of young men, a fine specimen
Diligent, responsible, admirable
all the right objectives slid in place,
smiling hollow through the veneer-
Masks and he special bedfellows
they have survived many storms,
as one they will survive yet more
-so I divine, in growing alarm.
“Stickler-Hitler, follows every rule”
“Stickler-Hitler, he’ll stay a fool”
jeers morphed into mock-whispers,
angry tears morphed into a shell-
taller and stronger, a fine young man
nests sturdy above the little boy-
When would I see his heart again?
I was young once too, you know,
young and incredibly self-absorbed,
when first I saw a thin husk form
nigh steeped in private torment,
doubts aside I watched it grow,
together they made quite the pair-
student has long eclipsed the teacher
-so I despair, ever the fool.
unnerved by his fledgling maturity
the attacks increased in notches,
before my horrified eyes the shell-
that wretched shell doubled in size
eating itself up, trapping his self
further deep, yet again and again
for attacks never ceased, only increased
-so I saw, in blooming regret.
with righteous anger went innocence,
with resentment went contentment
there must be balance, I suppose?
to douse fire with fire, I light a trap-
smoldering eyes break clean a layer,
one, of the multitudes still to go.
Betrayal shines through his exhaustion.
-so be it, I take up arms.
with each flame he will loath me more-
but is it not worth his freedom?
lonely little boy condemned unknowingly,
the one I swore to protect forever,
the one I must yet protect, though
lost inside the shell affixed over him.
as one we will cast it away from him.
-so I divine, hope springing eternal.
