little johnny was a poor sad thing
his father was a prideful brute
when johnny slumped his shoulders
his father tied the golden wire around his arms
and held him up high
when johnny dropped his head
his father tied the wire the strands of johnny’s thinning hair
and held him up high
when johnny’s eyes filled with tears
his father glued his eyelids shut
when johnny frowned and shouted
shouted for help because he didn’t feel alright
his father stitched johnny’s mouth closed into a permanent smiled
but no matter what johnny’s father did,
johnny just didn’t have the will to live