All the Answers

All the Answers

we
are the adults
and we've got
all the answers

we got all our answers
from textbooks
and scripture
and wisdom
handed down
from the adults
before us
who knew everything

we
are the adults
and we know
and if you don't think so
we'll bully you around
the way we're allowed to
since there's nobody
else
to bully us around
to stop it

people try
bullying us around
making us believe
they got all the answers
that's why
one group of us
tries bullying the other
and vice versa
just like we
bully you
with our wisdom

see
we're adults
and we hate being bullied
that's why we hate
those with whom
we can't agree

we hate being bullied
but we love
doing the bullying
that's why
we've got all the answers
and you
just like we did
get to swallow
them
for what are you 
without us 
anyway
but frightened
helpless chicks
chirping 
for a protective
nurturing
all-knowing
mother hen
to make things
safe?

we
are the adults
with all the answers
that we despise
being challenged
cause that challenge
puts into question
what we absolutely are
and what we
absolutely know

we
are the adults
with answers
necessarily 
precious
delicate
and selective
for preserving
our answers
like our memories
of dear momma
and the belief
that our children
are unique
beyond
their relation
to us

so
to squelch
any challenge
to who we are
and what we know
we get to shove 
our ways
down your throats
cause you're just
kids
unlike us
the adults
privileged to bully 
even one another
with all our answers

i suppose
the question becomes
when the ones
with all the answers
behave
no better
than the ones 
they're instructing
then who
gets to bully
all the children
whether young
or adult?

the answer is:
take your cues
from all of us
and just
ignore the concern
with throwaway answers
since it's a hard thing
to fathom
and the truth
in anything important
is complex
too complex
most of the time
for easy answers
from textbooks
scripture
or the wisdom
of the adults
before us
who knew everything

learn
from us
as you must
for we are the ones
with all the answers
and possessors
of all the delicate wisdom
of your precious
elders

listen to us
as you must
lest
you squander
your inheritance
of all this grace and elegance
birthed 
from our glorious 
answers