Lonely, fearful
separated, insistent – 
if this,
then that,
if that,
then this – 
the uniform
is one we’ve only read about
in stories written by 
prisoners and slaves
longing to be free;
and now we’re surprised by it
even though the teachers always warned us:
history repeats itself.
Still, 
dazed and defeated,
we button up our uniforms
so as not to be seen - 
living 
and 
praying 
and 
hoping - 
here in
the space we’re in.