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I’ve had dreams about these volcanoes before

There, in that claustrophobic closet on the upper floor

The one where I would hide from the world

Too big of a world, hot world, noisy world

A world never fit for me

And a me never fit for the world

If only anyone could see

The things that I see

The volcanoes three in a row

Spewing harsh talk and hot lava

I was the one hiding below the bleachers

Always too scared to come out

I was worried they’d throw rocks at me again

And I would just let them

Laughter and taunts were all the rage

My calliope grandeur

My silver snow cage

My mind fell off a turnip truck

That’s what they would say

In the glory days of chalkboard gore

Drawings and math

And I hid away inside my own hollow soul

Addicted to Hot Tamales candy

And the urge to just get high and walk around a forest

But that’s not part of the way

Everyone needs to be the same

Let’s go to the conform store

And by you a face that doesn’t offend

I have to hold my soul together with two hands

Like a torn paper grocery bag full of vegetables and cans

Everything is spilling out and hitting the ground

The brain pain makes me howl

Take a pill and swallow

Let it burn away the freedom you seek