Letter for little sisters

they never teach
you
in grade school
how to focus--only to sit
still.      feet flat, back straight.

no one ever tells
you
that spending endless nights--weeks
awake reading
is mania.       strings pulled by God, or pills.

he never told
you
that "no" was an option--that
not all hands and words
control.       only female roses have thorns.

so let me tell
you
that--writing lines isn't so bad,
         shrinks are overpaid,
         "no" is sometimes all you'll have, and
           there will be times
           when all
you
           have is
you.

~Jenica M. Corbett