gladiator erupted

it was there i felt, for the first time,

a familiar face, rather than the stranger

tie-dyed, stonewashed &

tossed, into an unfamiliar arena

chased around a rat by the cat,

scratching his ass in the divine glory

of satisfaction.

no longer rushing around

with my arms outstretched

reaching with every spare inch

that i have, attempting

to run; to escape,

instead of stopping to stand &

to make normal the chaos

& awkwardness

of social interaction,

cornered & trapped,

suffocating ever so

s l o w l y.

flashback to that timid schoolboy

afraid to speak up,...

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