inculcate

she starts out brave and brash
a superhero princess ninja pirate
in pullups and t-shirts and tutus
smeared in mom's discarded lipsticks
with talismanic broken broaches
casting spells and leading armies

but it doesn't take much

the world
with its implicit
and explicit messages
in mediums
like bacteria in agar
grows
taking on a life

and as if by rote
she'll teach herself

she's not
she can't
no, don't
good girls won't

and so inculcate
that smallness
meekness
weakness
are the measures
to keep to

despite your urging
that superhero princess ninja pirates
rule the day

so be there
be louder than the world

for she can be its saving
but only if you save her from it