Day 6: We Worry About the Children

we worry about the children

we send them out spit-shined

bring them in on electronic leads

come. speak. hug.

we do our best.

take their time.

feed them memories,

lessons learned,

our manifestos

printed on cereal boxes

we worry

they will ask

what we can’t tell

or they won’t ask

they will know

what we know

or what we don’t

we worry

children fattened on our principles

one day will feel

the bones beneath our shirts.

and who else has been feeding them?

meanwhile the children go on

being

people

braving the gap between        

            expected

and

understood

we worry

will we know them

once they have found

their

way?