Hey, teacher,

Teach me something I can use.

Teach how to not be a victim.

Teach me to be strong.

Teach me to be kind.

Teach me what “humanity” means.

Teach me why I have to treat Jane differently than Johnny.

Why I have to compete.

Teach me how to cope, and

How to explain my indignation

And not stifle it in alcohol and sweat.

Teach me not to rape.

Teach me to think.

Teach me to use a question mark as my weapon,

Not my fists.

Teach me how to survive

Without stealing,

Without killing.

Teach me how.

Tell me what really happened here.

What I’m really eating.

What I’m really doing.

What you’re really doing.

Teach me to leave the world better

Than I found it,

And better

Than it found me.

Stop teaching me, o Teacher,

What they

Taught

You.