“It’s all in the structure,” they tell me,
“The first and last, and all the ones
In the middle.” I sit
And clench my pen in one fist,
The air in the other.

“Oh, but plan,” they say again,
“Write the first one last,
Or second at least.”
Look up, then down
At the desk, and there’s

Very little time now.
“No, no!” They shout,
“Not that! Do you want to
Succeed?” They don’t
Explain the word to me,

Rather set it up as
O, My life’s purpose
Is to be ‘successful’,
Instead of just anywhere
Else but here.

“Start again,” and I’m
Back to the lonesome
Circle of failure.
I don’t question because
I was never taught how.