they have love, togetherness
and what do you have?
plenty, but you’re not realizing it
right now.

right now you’re jealous
of their life:
they live it on the edge
and you live it in your mind.

he made you so angry at school.
he teases, he provokes—
threatens to hit
threatens to hurt.

you know the threats are empty
but you’re outraged anyhow.
he has no right
to treat people like dirt.

well, take a breath, dear.
anger never made you see reason.
and sometime, as the world turns round
you’ll realize that everything’s going to be okay.