Tomorrow lies in a sticky-wet puddle at my feet And all my yesterdays are growing too heavy Straining to burst free from the shiny pink membrane That barely separates them From the cruel, pointing fingers Of the scandal-seeking crowd. I do not wish any longer To share in their catatonic state, But instead I continue to climb against the raging, Shoving current of the endless waterfall, Alone and unafraid Toward destiny And I forsake without apology The security that conformity offers. I am no longer what I once was: Merely another mindless piece Of the glorious whole, But stronger now And the eternal clock ticks past morning And into the crimson before midday More deeply, infinitely more do I fear the silence The mendicant and instant acceptance By which the masses sully me Than do I dread their hatred And their offended pride; Their glaring antipathy Their cold rejection. This do I know to be more certain even Than the coming of the night: Unless I have the courage to stand alone I will surely see destruction For it takes not great strength or genius To be held ***** by the pressing Of the single minded crowd. And so I ascend, Heedless of yesterday Undaunted by tomorrow, Leaving behind everything that is certain Embracing instability. Like a star I travel forward Into the fathomless darkness And I can't be pulled down by gravity And I continue forever into no one knows what But my shining path is followed By the eyes of many Drawing them momentarily From their listlessness And forcing them into temporary And vastly uncomfortable realization. It is the essence of courage to stand apart And the highest measure of my worth Lies in my willingness to be complete Without the acceptance and accolades of mankind Complete and content to walk alone To be hated by all those around me. This is my destiny. This is my choice.