when she was six years old
she drew
purple and orange tigers
they told her there was
no such thing
but she was not deterred

she added some teal ears
they said
that she now needed counsel
they told her there was
no such thing
but their words went unheard

the jungle and the ocean and
a slew
of distant planets
they told her she was
dangerous
and needed medication

she’s now
a working artist and
no fan of education
which she says is
a children’s jail
that’s run by (mostly)
fools