I worry about you
Not in a what-if-you're-not-good-enough way
but in a what-if-I'm-not-strong-enough fashion
You see,
I'm not concerned you won't fit
society's standards
I'm more terrified
that if you do
one day I'll have to look
another daughter's mother
in the eye
and be forced to echo
that same tired defense
Boys may be boys
But alliteration does not
absolve you from blame
and I need you to be
better than the bastards
brought freely into this world
to fight and fuck and rule
without a single thought
that their actions might
have consequences
The truth is
I love you son
But I've known enough boys
to know what boys can do
And saving you from
what American thinks is a man
will likely be the hardest
trial either of us will ever go through
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