My mother warned me aboutcigarettes that could cause lung cancerBut she never told me that selfhatred could grow faster than anytumor ever couldMy father warned me that ishould never stop thinkingBut he never told me thatover thinking would kill myhappinessMy sister warned me about otherpeople who might make hurtfulcomments about meBut she never told me thatinstead of hearing someone else'svoice, i'd hear my ownMy brother warned me aboutthe drugs sold in baggies on the streetBut he never told me about theones that people put in your glasswhen you're not lookingMy grandmother warned meabout the devil with his tail andred hornsBut she never told me about hisangelic smile and his dark brown eyesMy grandfather warned meabout booze that could killBut he never told me that if youdrink enough alcohol, it tasteslike loveMy cousin warned me that i should lose my virginity to a guy iloveBut she never told me he shouldlove me, tooMy aunt warned me that if i kepteating that much, i might vomitBut she never told me that evenwithout eating anything, you canhang over the toilet and pukeMy baby sitter warned me that aboy would break my heartBut she never told me that if imade him mad, he'd also breakmy arm and noseMy teacher warned me aboutdangerous men with knives thatcould easily cut my throatBut she never told me that i didn'tneed these men to cut my skinThey all warned me that ishouldn't do dangerous thingsthat could kill meBut i never had the chance to askthem if slitting both my wristsverticallyAnd taking thirty eight asprinswas one of these dangerousthings -d.a.n.