If I Hadn’t Stepped Off the Bus (NaPoWriMo #2)

If I hadn’t stepped off the bus
Onto painted footprints and marched
Up the Bring Me Men Ramp
Into the U.S. Air Force Academy, military world…

If I hadn’t got on the plane
That took me to the bus
Onto the painted prints
etc

If I hadn’t accepted the appointment before I
Got on the plane
That took me to the bus
Onto the prints…
You know the drill.

If I hadn’t copied my brother
And accepted the appointment
And got on the plane
And off the bus
And onto the prints…

If I hadn’t carried the headless chickens,
If I hadn’t walked into the yellow jackets’ nest,
If I hadn’t copied his swagger,
If I hadn’t worshipped his every move,

If I hadn’t stepped off the bus,
Three decades ago,
I wouldn’t be me.