Odd One Out - O.O.O. (Poetry)

I’m a loner — not a joiner —
I make no excuse for that
and to every mad eccentric
I now tip my poet’s hat

I admit it’s sometimes lonely
perched way out there on my own
but I’d rather be the odd one
than a do-as-I’m-told clone

If they label me a rebel
as non-member of their club
and they take it rather badly —
a stand-offish social snub

Then I’m sorry for offending
(except I’m kind of not)
but my song won’t suffer blending
mine’s the only voice I’ve got

So commit me to a corner
and exclude me from the loop
I’m too different — just a misfit
and I might corrupt the group

with my non-conformist leanings
and opinions out of line
with the herd when such free-thinking’s
seen as tantamount to crime

while normal’s close to boring
and dutiful sounds sad
I’d rather be the outcast
and risk I might go bad