WHEN I WAS SANE

When I was sane I danced naked in rain,
climbed rooftops; drew horses and raptors
on my bedroom walls,
carved flying people on my belly.
I wore boy costumes to school;
but later, in trees, I peeled them off like dead skin.
On Halloween I crouched in pumpkin glow
and grinned with blackened teeth at the children.
Ma thought I was delightful,
but Pa took away my crayons
and returned me to the state hospital.
That was when I gave up on sanity.
I glued my mouth shut
and dove into fry-cooking and auto parts.
Eventually, I was fitted with man clothes,
my hands were recalibrated,
I was placed on an assembly line,
and there I remained until my face shriveled up.

Fred White's poems have appeared in Allegro Poetry Magazine, Rattle, Spry, and elsewhere. He lives in Folsom, CA.