whatever you were
wrapped in,
it's gone.
      so get over it.
that feeling of panic
in your gut
      isn't going away
anytime soon
you can't afford
   p r i d e
(though you have a death grip
       on dignity)
life is struggle
    don't hope for escape
because there is no way out
no one is there
  to catch your tears
or return you
to a state of
blissful ignorance

keep pushing down
  your fury
pack it down
  hard
lest it ignite
   and burn what is left
strike the word
fair
   from your repertoire
because the mere thought
of the word
   constricts your chest
with such bitterness
   that it is surely
an unearthly force

don't ruin it
  for the precious little ones
fill their lives
  with color and music
and stories
  because there is
nothing else worth doing
but creating
   let them scribble
and babble and run
and get *****
because that freedom will
be taken from them in
the blink of an eye

don't jade the teenagers
  under your watchful eye,
you fool
   give them color and music
and stories
   and the power to question
and think
   that is all you can do
with your feeble self
    and good luck with the task

don't bother anymore
with pursuit of
politics or philosophy
because nothing matters
your goal
is one foot
in front of the other
without
breaking an ankle.