Lament

Witch
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…