Books full, I write
down my astonishment
It seems to be who I am -
as far as I know
(since I was six)
I didn't understand the teacher
my exploding father, mama
and my older brother
Why shouldn't I have said
what I knew and what was true?
Not even when asked!
That the neighbour was drunk
that one boy was stupid, and
that you shouldn't play soccer
in a cluster! 'Go away!' 'Professor!'
'Show-off!' 'Chatter-box!' 'Cry-baby!'
I couldn't help the tears
They came from other people's lack
of understanding and when I was honest while
all the children lied without batting an eyelid
Apparently, that's how it should be
or it's private
May 9
May 9, 2026 at 3:12 AM UTC
Books full, I write
down my astonishment
It seems to be who I am -
as far as I know
(since I was six)
I didn't understand the teacher
my exploding father, mama
and my older brother
Why shouldn't I have said
what I knew and what was true?
Not even when asked!
That the neighbour was drunk
that one boy was stupid, and
that you shouldn't play soccer
in a cluster! 'Go away!' 'Professor!'
'Show-off!' 'Chatter-box!' 'Cry-baby!'
I couldn't help the tears
They came from other people's lack
of understanding and when I was honest while
all the children lied without batting an eyelid
Apparently, that's how it should be
or it's private
Autobiographical novel "Min Kamp. Tredje bok" (2009, "My Struggle - 3. Boyhood Island", 2014, Karl Ove Knausgård), part 4, the first months at primary school on the island of Tromøya
Collection "Why: Leaving"
