Be careful … don’t touch
Don’t cry … watch out!
Color inside the lines

Within us in the beginning
There’s a tender, marshmallow spirit
Gleefully exploring every sight and sound.
Gradually, however, words and worry
Crust over that softness.

Don’t dawdle … don’t doodle
Stop daydreaming … Stop playing around
This is the way we draw a pumpkin

Don’t do it that way
Don’t ask so many questions
Don’t make a mess
Don’t be silly
We don’t do art today

Word after word after word
And the crust grows harder
And the crust grows darker

Go to sleep … wake-up
Stop running … hurry up
Don’t get dirty … clean up your room

Sit still … stand up straight
Be quiet … find the right answer
Stop giggling … act like an adult

Get better … be the best
Get smart … run faster
Take responsibility
We don’t do art today

Layer after layer after layer
And the crust becomes a shell
And the shell grows harder
And the shell grows darker

Do it my way
It’s policy … it’s procedure
Don’t make waves … don’t cause problems
Don’t take risks

Do it right the first time … do it faster
It’s my way or the highway
You’re not paid to think
Follow the chain of command
It’s not the way we do things around here

Don’t make mistakes
It’s impossible … we tried it last year
It’s not in the budget
It’s too risky … get serious

You’re too young … you’re too old
That’s not your problem
That’s crazy … it won’t work
We don’t do art today

And the shell sinks deeper
And the shell grows harder
And the shell grows darker

Until
it takes
a jack hammer

To crack it open
To find
that soft,
white
space
again.