I would be happy

If I wasn’t so sad

I am so sorry

That things are so bad

 

When I was little

I thought it a given

Respect your elders

If you want to enjoy

Livin'

 

Look up to the wise

The educated

For they are your betters

They will tell you no lies

 

When I was young

I imagined a world

Where the privileged

Looked out

For everyone

 

I hear you laughing

How could you be

So naive

To believe

 

But, I did

I believed that they

Were just like you and me

I honestly thought

They knew better

And they would set me free

 

There were role models

Things to aspire to

The teacher

The lawyer

The prime minister

 

As I’ve grown older

I’ve seen through the lies

And now I worry

Because so many roles

I despise

 

But where does this leave us?

What for our children?

What can we tell them?

 

Where should we look?

Who can we point to

To teach our children?

 

I feel like a fisherman

Without a hook.

 

C.K.22