In German
the word for nipple
is breast
wart.
It’s no wonder
they grow so many
existentialists.
But we are not so
innocent.
Consider the effect
of telling a child
they have
hit
puberty.
I always imagined
my little body
young and running and free
and suddenly
a wall.
Now, I watch myself
walk.
What if we gathered our young
and whispered instead
with sparkle in our voices:
How exciting,
you are about
to meet
your adult
self.