Lament

This is the world I meant
Couldn’t you listen?
Couldn’t you stay content?
Safe behind walls, as I could not
Now you know what’s out there in the world
No one can prepare you for the world, even I
How could I, who loved you as you were
How could I have shielded you from her or them?
No matter what you say
Children won’t listen
No matter what you know
Children refuse to learn
Guide them along the way
Still they won’t listen
Children can only grow
From something you love
To something you lose