I sat down and listened,
Like they say a good boy should.
I opened my book and was quiet.
But I wished the others would.
I was focused, no doubt,
Like the teacher always said.
My palms sweated, I was nervous.
But t'was the trip home that I dread.
My family will never appreciate,
The activity I did.
I knew this for a fact now,
It was me they wanted to rid.
"It's a lie!" My granny piped,
"The devils work!" She cried.
"Granny, please! I'm sorry!" I murmured,
"I like to read and write!" I tried.
But she had ignored me, stomping away.
She had the right, you see.
I had said the lord name in vain,
And to her, it caused misery.
Besides her, there was my mother,
Worried about my life.
She'd told me writing stories,
Would end up cutting me like a knife.
"You won't be able to get a job," She moaned,
"If you let people think you're weakminded!"
At that moment, I went silent.
Guess I just won't talk then!
I wanted to Dream, Think, Dare,
As a writer, I could leave!
Head up North, they say it's safe!
Maybe...I could even believe!
Believe that maybe one day,
That I could be a writer!
Besides, Between a pen and sword,
Which of them is mightier?
Everyone says I'm wrong.
My peers, The State, The School.
But I knoq what my future is.
This a kingdom that I rule!
In class I was more attentive.
But I was treated like a dog with mange.
My teacher was even peeved,
My peers thought I was just strange.
"Don't do this!" or "Be quiet!"
That's all I ever heard.
"Why do you ask so many questions?"
So many?! That's absurd!
As I remembered how I started,
Only beginning my silent quest.
With that man, and my manuscript,
I put my writing to the test.
"Alright, I'll read it." He murmured,
Blowing lightly in his pipe.
"But I want you to read it NOW!" I yelled.
He was strange to me, I know his type.
"Where's my story?" I chirped,
On my way to work the next day.
"In the galleys, it's being set up in type" He sighed.
"What's that?" I blinked. "It's being published?! Hooray!"
And so, the next three days, I waited.
T'was published in three componants, you know.
But that was solely the beginning of my journey.
It takes more than a story to get my life in tow.
And so I'll stay where I "belong"
And pretend I regret my "snarkiness"
So I'll assure the "caring" folk,
That I'll stay Hidden in the Darkness.
