This poem is spillover from the July 5, 2016 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from
technoshaman. It also fills the "rites of passage / coming of age" square in
my 7-1-16 card for the
trope_bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by
janetmiles. It belongs to the
Shiv thread of the
Polychrome Heroics series.
Warning: This poem contains a lot of intense feelings. Highlight to read the warnings, some of which are spoilers.
Shiv is moving out of his old cell in the private wing. It seems like a simple, low-action scene from the outside but it's not to Shiv; for him it feels overwhelming. Also the inside of Shiv's head is still a dicey place. There is anxiety over change, uncertainty about the future, a fatalistic approach to doing what he frankly doesn't want to do, difficulty perceiving benefits, ambivalence, discussions of discipline, erratic personal boundaries, difficulty tolerating touch, reluctance, confusion, and other challenges. It's a necessary and positive change, but that still doesn't make it feel good. If these are touchy topics for you, please consider your tastes and headspace before moving onward.
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