I built a second self for you
the first was much too me
I built a second self for you
that’s all you’ll ever see.

My second self is hardly real—
a shadow of my first.
She won’t get mad, she can’t feel sad,
and nothing ever hurts.

I learned the way you flinch and hide
when things fall out of place
So trouble, then, I’ll never be—
I’ll never need your grace.

You’ll never have to worry now
You’ll never have to try
You’ll never have to find kind words
Or comfort when I cry.

You’ll get your dots, you’ll get your Ts
You’ll get polite—get “thanks” and “please”
But all that’s real and all that’s true—
what’s me—I’ll never show to you.

Your games and jokes, your phony care
are noise I just tune out
I’ll never join, I won’t be there
the bounds I’ll push, the rules I’ll flout

And every time I turn away
what fun to see your face
I know that you cannot abide
when rats decline to race.

I built a second self for you
my best you’ll never know
My spirit’s safe, my soul intact
Enjoy your status quo.