adolescent boys
slowly I must remove
the stones from their eyes
how to do this with kindness and patience
not panic and shock?
one by one
I reveal the world’s wounds
trying to balance each truth
with a modicum of sunlight
trying to remain
someone they’ll speak to without squirming
trying to prepare them
for the brutality they can’t close their eyes to
trying to remind them
their choices can change our path
trying to teach them
the joy of being gentle
even in a violent world
