Still Learning

from the moment i was born

i've been learning how to die

ever since i realised i was grounded

i've been trying to learn to fly

initially i learnt to crawl

a scuffling of uncoordinated hands and knees

rudimentary manners came next

a simple thank you or please

then when i learnt to walk

i hit the ground fast and running

keep going forward they said

less manic like but more cunning

they told me what to think

and then they turned the tele on

they told me to watch and wait

it wouldn’t take very long

everything i didn’t want to know

force fed by a cathode tube

i learnt to question everything

now they say i’m just being rude

so i organised my madness

this allowed my harsh edges to soften

i alphabetically arrange my sadness

sometimes; just not that often

the softer my edges, the harder i fought

till all i had left was my voice

i acknowledged all i was about to lose

remembering that i had a choice