The Upbringings

Taught to be good and nice
To elders, not the wise.
Taught to be good and sweet
To all youngsters – kind or mean.

Taught to be pretty and sane
Sensible in a way world approved my brain.
Taught to hold my tongue in silence
“Good people respond to disrespect with kindness.”

Taught to be unselfish and giving
To be sympathetic and forgiving.
No matter what it took from me
“Your hurt and opinions mean nothing.”

Taught to compromise and adjust
“The world is cruel and unjust.”
Taught to listen quietly to what’s said
“It happens; you should just forget.”

What I wasn’t taught to be is to be free.
To give me the love I deserve
To not contain my spirits or conserve.
Respect ideas and thoughts before the age
Feel all emotions – disappointment, and rage.

Sympathize with the wise and kind
Respect not their age but their mind.
It wasn’t the fault that the world was cruel in its might.
If only we were raised to do what is right.
(Justice to ourselves before others)

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