my kids sometimes ask me
about my life rule book
like i’m Gibbs
everything can be solved
by some witty yet insightful
quip
followed by a loving slap
upside the back of the head

my life rules
are more like a *****-slap
to the face
i don’t pull punches anymore
my fists don’t remember feathers
but force

needless to say
the version i share with my kids
is bubble-wrapped
by the desire to protect
so i spill saccharine-seasoned words
with only a bit of acid
because truth is still truth

this world is not a safe place for placating anymore
i won’t insult by even trying

rule #24:
boys will break your body
girls will break your heart

ro-sham-bo
paper covers rock
rock crushes scissors
scissors cut paper
some things just are