Careful

 

“You be careful, young lady”

“Yes, mother” Whatever.

Like I’m never

Careful.

 

I start to walk, basket in hand.

After awhile,

I pass

Someone else on the road.

 

“Out for a walk in the woods?

Be careful, there’s wolves in there”

“Yes, sir” Like I care.

I’ve never seen a wolf before

And I’m always

Careful.

 

Now I see

Something else up ahead.

Furry, gray,

lying on the side of the road.

Is it dead?

 

As I approach, I notice

Its open eyes.

It’s alive.

And it stands up,and asks,

“Where are you going?”

 

It was polite,

And seemed kind

So I say,

“I’m going to visit

My grandma today.”

 

“Where does she live?”

And then I remember

“Careful”

 

But still I reply,

“Just down this road,

To the left”.

“Oh, not that way!

There are lions,

And tigers,

And bears.

You should be careful.

Take the longer route.

Turn right at the next fork.”

 

I thank

The thoughtful wolf,

And go the way he said

When I got to her house,

My granny was dead

The woodsman killed the wolf,

And then he said,

“And this, Little Red Riding hood,

Is why you should always be

Careful.”

 

I tell my story to my children today,

Warning them against speaking to strangers.

When you think you

Know everything

Is when you dicover new dangers.

And I always tell them

To be

Careful.

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