First-day nerves.
First-day nerves.
Words are sucked out
Of the air
Vacuum sealed
Mouths, if you please
Auditorium rules apply
First-day nerves
Langor sinks into a chair
An easy Sunday,
Leaning into Monday
Idleness bleeds into the cushion
Self-absorbed
Regardless of opinion
Oblivious to appearance
The stain on character
Anxiety chews at fingernails
The sharp edge of a seat bites back
Blood tastes good
Recognisable
Empires are won and lost
In the space between
Self-determination
And isolationism
Every sound deadened
In an echo of footfalls
A welter of pratfalls
Adolescent sweat
The smell of desperation
Locker room degradation
Detention cells are padded
For a reason
There is comfort in disquiet
It cocks its nose
In disgust
At the plight of wide-eyed
Rabbit-faced
New boys
Swilling their innards
Into the gutter
At the thought
Of freaking out.
Motherless egos
Rudderless children
Brass bells and assembly points
House rules make little sense
But there is compliance
Hierarchy
Is preferable to anarchy
There will be
Dormitory tears
Desktop fears
It was ever thus.
Bullies were made for
Lights out
And communal showers