I earned it

through years of unclean living

as I self-medicated

with whatever I could get my hands on:

mounds of shitty food, the green bite of weed,

piles of novels depicting bloody swords.

I earned it

through the unwilling sacrifice of my mind, as

the distended faces of tormentors poured disdain on my head

prematurely bleaching follicles to the sheen of ancient bone.

If I am “too young to be so grey”

go take it up with the assholes who helped me dye.

I’m too busy owning the wisdom that comes with this color.

Please subscribe to keep reading.