Red or Maroon Words

I was raised by a pack of boys
I grew up surrounded by the smell of sweat, dirt and yellow
Yellow is the smell of being hit in the nose
I've been in school since I was five
It's the second hardest thing I've ever done

I spent k-3 fighting against the tyrannical "Boys Team"
They forced girls to dig  up writhing earthworms that they sold to a toothless man
choose between dirt in your nails or fire in your lungs
I chose to fight, and was rewarded by a handful of hair and a bloody nose
It was the second most violent I've ever been

At Oaks Park I threw up,I tried to cover my mouth and got a nose full of vibrant cranberries
I killed a crayfish.Boiled it red in it's shell. I ate the shell and threw away the rest
I swallowed a pint of my own red blood
Spitting irony between sucking on my lollipop
That was the second reddest stanza I ever wrote

I learned that I was worth something
I tried cheese fondue, strongly tasting of dry white wine
I got an X shaped scar dragging up three inches of my ankle
I fell in love and stood back to watch it happen
That was the second stupidest mistake I ever made

I threw away a molting stuffed raptor
I cut off a foot of silken hair in several sharp snips
I gave away my favorite black buckle boots
I dropped down with a flop and a sigh, keeping nothing I didn't need
It was the second most cathartic experience I ever had

I decided to go to college, my pride echoing every word
I gave up ideas of friends and parties- all the superfluous pleasures
I was to live a monkish life of self-betterment and self-discipline
But I didn't
Without retrospect I can't judge my decision
And that is alright with me.