how long

The meeting drones on around him

As his mind

So busy

Wanders down the pathways of his youth

Remembering

Sunny summer days

Dust exploding under his feet as he runs

In his mind

a hero

strong and handsome

inside a body

slow to grow

these moments of freedom

where no voices ridicule

and he is outside the circle

no more

this one who is never quite “in”

but soon he must return

plodding to that place

where doubt lives

and he is just the skinny little

guy in glasses

awkward in his own skin

how long must he carry

those big ears, and black glasses

and knobby knees through life

always

not quite

enough?