It doesn’t get any easier than this.

It doesn’t get any easier than this.

The image

Reflected in a mirror

I really am a lefty

It looks odd

So different to others

Am I sinister

Someone to be feared

Revered.

My teacher thought me so

I remember the slice of the ruler

Across the back of my hand

The pain of contact

The bruise of pride

A rap across my knuckles

For the sin of using the wrong hand.

“Change hands boy.

You evil little shit.”

The tears bit back

Even then, my feelings too well hid.

The fast run home

The school refusal

Paddled by my dah

For taking the wrong turn

Given my instructions

“Take the punishment like a man

But never yield

More than you need

To make it through the day

Intact.

Keep to the left-hand path

As far as it goes

Learn to adapt

To adverse conditions.

In time you might find

Tolerating pain

Defeats the bigot

Overcomes ignorance

And in maturity

Adds value,

With the possibility

Of dexterous ingenuity

The will to win

The fallibility to succeed,

It can be what makes you

Who you are.”