they’ll try to tell you

that you must be hard

& empty.

well, i challenge you

i double-dog-dare you

not to listen to a

word.

let yourself be

soft. you are not weak

for crying over roadkill

or the scrapes on your knees

or the almost ending

of Big Hero Six.

sing along to the radio

& don’t let yourself

be ashamed

for actually sounding good.

draw on the margins

of your homework—

anything from Captain Underpants

to flowers—and leave 

it there for your teacher

to see.

never lose your laughs

but always mismatch 

your socks

to make up for the lost

ones.

let yourself

grow wild and stay

that way.

run through the grass

& let yourself feel it;

feel everything 

you have the chance to.

you are princes.

you are kings.

you are magnificent

& i refuse to let

you believe 

otherwise.

- s.p.