by doing what I was supposed
to, by following all the rules. I had
to buck convention, use my imagination
to get to this point. I had to lose

a lot of family and friends. I had to
stand on my own and watch the world
**** all over my open wounds –
infect them with their hate and disdain,

making me feel shame. But I said
I was never going to keep my head down
to the ground again. If I wanted to rise
my eyes would have to look high up

at the stars in the sky. And every
black hole that I descend I would
fill with the courage of ten.