They came in
from a cloud of smoke
with those blue cans in their hands
(who pays attention to the brand anymore?)

Their eyes glowed
like they just saw a
acid
kaleidoscope
and everything else
vanished. Their goes their
fifteen? sixteen? years of life.

The shy kid down the street
became his own idol.
The small girl from church
walked on the smoldering ashes she created.

These kids don't even know
the meaning of grief.
But these elementaries are
spoon-feeding
it to each other like they know
what the hell they're talking about.