​They Will Tell You by Laura Jean Moore

They will tell you to soften yourself.
They will tell you to be nice.
They will tell you to tell them they are great.
They will tell you the sky is green.
They will laugh when you say no.
They will tell you, but we all know it to be so.

They will plant a stake and point to the wood.
They will tell you to be friendly.
They will tell you to tell them they are loved.
They will tell you the ground is water.
They will get mad when you say no.
They will tell you, but we all know it to be so.

They will take you to the cemetery.
They will tell you to be good.
They will tell you to tell them they know best.
They will tell you straw is stone.
They will light the match when you say no.
They will tell you, but we all know it to be so.

They will tell you to go with grace.
They will tell you to be forgiving.
They will tell you to tell them they are right.
They will tell you pain is wealth.
They will cut out your tongue when you say no.
They will tell you, but we all know it to be so.

Laura Jean Moore’s poetry, essays, and stories have been featured in VICE, [PANK], the EEEL, FLUX WEEKLY, ENTROPY, the Brooklyn Rail, Corium, the Cobalt Review, and Change Seven, where she is a monthly columnist. She holds an MFA from Columbia University and a BA from Reed College. http://laurajeanmoore.com/

READ ALL COLUMNS BY LAURA JEAN MOORE:

• Against Genius
• Feminine Costuming
• #YesAllWomen
• Benediction
• Silence
• Routine
• Time
• The Streets Are Full of Blood
• On Vice(s)
• What Gets Missed
• Low Country
• Sister
• A Dark Graceful Wilderness
• Before and After
• Appalachia
• Family
• Waiting
• On Greatness
• Whiteness, A Study
• New York
• Faith
• American Dreams
• Body Talk
• Habits, Simple and Austere
• On Love

READ MORE WORK BY THIS AUTHOR

• Each New Heartache is as Old as the First
• Five Poems by Laura Jean Moore