Injury

The other day I stumbled and fell
and I really hurt myself
more than just physical hurt
I bruised my insides as well
and in the way that I fell
public it was
for everybody to see
for everybody to feed
on my humiliation
and I fought the temptation
to cry, to bawl,
to scream, to crawl
out of the institution
with my tail between my legs
but I stood up instead
and with my head held high
I laughed it off and tried
to walk as if there was no pain
and ignored on my pants the stains
of my injury
plain for everyone to see
that when I act like
the person I'm supposed to be
its not really me