swaddled and coddled

it's how we are raised

taught how to live

in these unfortunate days

.

with your large hands

circling mine

comforting words

concealing your lies

.

raised naïve

it never helped anybody

yet we repeat it

like a broken record

.

don't talk to strangers

don't walk at night

never ever

get caught in a fight

.

what happened to survival

living every breath

what happened to happiness

and no regrets?

.

maybe it's different

to you not me

but one day you'll come to see

you have to let us be

.

nobody grows

under constant watch

nobody knows

what others forgot

.

your hugs and kisses

won't help outside

because the real world is where

hope goes to die

.

(bye bye)

i.e. the real world is where the monsters are.