Don’t kill me and don’t
make me stronger.
Don’t run me
through the gauntlet.
Don’t run me
down the washboard,
and up, and down again.
Don’t exhaust what’s in me
that’s good and worth
holding on to.
Don’t extract, puree, or blend
from my ingredients.
Don’t wring me
out.
Don’t hang me
dry.
Don’t bore,
placate,
fawn to me.
Don’t bore, placate, fawn
to me.
Do distract.
Do listen.
Do impassion.
Do impart.
Do make wiser.
Don’t frustrate,
Don’t force.
Don’t ask me to be something I’m not.
Don’t ask me for more than what I am.
Don’t disregard my feelings.
Don’t make me disregard
the feelings of others.
Don’t kill me. Don’t
make me stronger.
