They Told Us No

When we were youthful, they told us anything was attainable. 

They filled our young heads with ceaseless hope and desire 

so we believed we could rule the world. And we listened.

We kept our little chins high and our engines steaming. 

We didn't cave in or bail out when monsters from movies

came out and revealed their sharp teeth. We showed no 

fear when we fell off our bikes, and turned revulsion into ambition 

when the blood stained our soft clothes. We didn’t turn away

and walk home but instead faced the bike, wiped away the tears,

and tried again. We tried again. And then something changed.

We were told no. 

They spoke into our vulnerable soles and broke our bones, cracked

our faith. They stabbed us in the back and then pushed a little harder. 

And we took it. We didn't face our fears with bravery and courage 

like we had before. Instead we watched and endured the pain 

we thought we would never have to feel. 

They told us no.

They told us not to cry yet they somehow yanked the tears 

from our swollen eyes. They told us to work hard 

and as we did they pushed all the might of the world 

onto our bruised and beaten backs. They told us to love 

but didn’t realize how hard it is to love

in a world full of hate. They told us no.

But we tell them yes.