PTSD - Post Traumatic Sovereign Disorder
By Reid Baer

It was in the fall and I was mowing the lawn
wearing shorts and an old t-shirt when I stepped in
to a hive of aggressive ground nesting insects
that appeared to be bees – but most certainly were
by their colored coats the extremely unpleasant

Yellowjackets. I danced in pure fear - excitement –
frenzy even screaming as the swarm attacked my
bare black legs stinging and stinging incessantly
I darted to and fro swiping at them as would
a typical child react to wasp-like flying

Things inflicting so much sudden pain before a
thought to fight or flight sinks in just please the big crowd
that’s how I grew up performing with a big smile
all the while inside perspiring profusely
promising I would never be a bad man – no -

No matter what life would bring - but I lie under
my thoughts because you see it was how I was taught.
Even now, I have a multitude of stingers
nesting ready to harass on my command as
I am - an abdicating young man and Tyrant King.
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