I Won’t Teach You That

Podcast

YouTube

As we stroll down the pebble-strewn path

To the waves crashing the basalt shoreline

Hold on to my hand tightly, my baby.

For I’ll teach you, which pebbles to dodge

And which roaring waves to avoid.

But I won’t teach you that

I won’t teach you what the world expects

I won’t teach you to be demure and coy

I won’t teach you to perform at every request.

As we hop-skip-and-jump to the weekly market

At the pier, with our bags swinging jauntily

Hold on to my hand tightly, my baby.

For I’ll teach you to look for the best bargains

And too when a better bargain is not to haggle.

But I won’t teach you that

I won’t teach you to tread over others

I won’t teach you to sell yourself short

I won’t teach you to be false to yourself.

As we amble down the paved road to your school

Admiring the profusion of sea lavenders and fleabanes

Hold on to my hand tightly, my baby.

For I’ll teach you which ones flourish the best

And which ones need more nurture and care.

But I won’t teach you that

I won’t teach you to bend over backward

I won’t teach you to just love others

I won’t teach you to forget yourself.

Today, my little sunshine, you are a girl

Tomorrow you will be a woman,

Day after tomorrow a wife, a daughter-in-law

And one day hence a mother yourself.

But underneath all that, you will be you

I will teach you never to forget yourself

I will teach you to love yourself

I will teach you that you cannot please all

I will teach you to let go and move on.

But I won’t teach you

The things I was taught.

It’s time for a new curriculum

Time to bring in new sensibilities

Time to stand by our sisters

Time to believe in ourselves.

Yes, I won’t teach you that

The things I was taught

That circle breaks, here and now…

Lead Image Courtesy – Pixabay