he didn't want
to play outside
with the other boys
he wanted to
stay inside
so he could be happy
while he was
sketching
painting
reading
looking
watching
thinking
and just
he wanted
to be him
but they would not
let him because
he was not
normal
and on the rare occasion
that he would speak up
and share a thought
they would
shoot him down
ignore him
and walk away
the only thing
that will always
listen to him is
darkness
as he lays
still in his bed
safe under
the covers
he thinks
and the silence
is so clear
it is as if
he is thinking out loud
dreaming out loud
that's what he wants to do
but he can't
so he gives up
and now the boy
with thoughts
ricocheting off the
inside of his head
is mute
because he
is different
and society
cannot handle different.
