Change Edition – evolution

When you’re older

They say

About candy

And pets

And later bedtimes

When you’re older

They say

About TV

And music

And movies

When you’re older

They say

About driving

And voting

And moving out

Now that I’m older

They say

Don’t walk alone at night

Hold your keys like claws

Carry something

Anything

With you

Now that I’m older

They say

Don’t drive too fast

Think about your decisions 

I don’t want you

And your friends

To be a headline

Now that I’m older

They say

Be careful

Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do

Even when I know

That when they were my age

They’d do so much I wouldn’t do

Now that I’m older

They say 

Don’t be stupid

Don’t be rash

It’s not worth being hurt

Over something 

You can’t change

Now that I’m older

They say

You’re still my little girl

Where’s that drive

That pushed you to do well 

In school 

When you were little

Now that I’m older

They say

Well which candidate do you prefer

And why don’t you agree

With what I think

And what he thinks

And what she thinks

Now that I’m older

They say

They send prayers

Not actions or protections

But prayers

For the next generation

The ones who will make change

Now that I’m older

Life has dimmed out

There’s bright spots

But they’re becoming few

And far between

It’s like there’s a grey filter

Over everything

Now that I’m older

It’s hard to fathom

That this was something I

Once enjoyed

Getting up going to school

Doing my homework

Now that I’m older

It’s hard to believe

That I was once that small

And so full of hope

For the future

And that I had such big dreams

That I thought could come true

Now that I’m older

Talking to people is hard

Making jokes

About nonexistence

Is easier now

Than making happier jokes

Like I did

When they still told me

“When you’re older.”