"grow"

oh honey,
chew the sweets
for all you know there could be glass in them.

don't wipe your mouth with the hem
of your sleeves,

don't swallow, follow
the hollow kids,
the shallow-looking, empty-feeling
sunken-in bodies over there
in the dense mist.

let go of my hand, child
be mild- and smile

while you hold your head
up high,

higher than the others,

force it if you have to.

look at the sky,
come on, don't cry-

don't, don't, don't

disappoint, do-
learn how to swim,

be pessimistic and egoistic

and, and, and
but don't you hold my hand.