sometimes i think i should hold them in
and hide myself behind a wall of demureness
or feign politeness beneath a shadow of civility

i know they send shockwaves through crowds
and cause murmurs and looks among friends
and send shivers up my mother’s spine

sometimes i think i should hold them in
because what role am I modeling for my girls
who seem to have opinions growing from their mouths?

but then I think, holding them in would mean
holding in my strength, my courage, myself,
and isn’t that the person I want them to know?

sometimes I think I should hold them in
but my words are not reigns and people aren’t tame:
on the inside, they’re wild like me, I know it.

and my words (offensive or not) allow them
to see for one moment (could be an hour)
what it’s like on the other side of the fence.