Do not become
your mother.
Not because you
do not love her,
you do,
that is one fact that
late-night Google searches
cannot tell you.
But love is not equivalent
to imitation.
You are not your mother.
You were born for a
different kind
of life.
Vote for the
Legalise Marijuana party.
If they ask why,
tell them.
If they don’t ask,
don’t tell.
Kiss boys.
Lots of them.
Girls, too.
When you find someone
good enough,
kiss them in your sleep.
You’ll know them
when you find them.
Their lips will taste like
home.
Sing.
Loudly.
Badly.
Harmonise,
or not.
Fuck the soprano line.
Do drugs,
but not the bad ones.
Educate yourself enough
to know what the bad ones
are.
Have sex.
Love it.
Or hate it.
Depends on the situation.
Do not be afraid
to let people see you.
Shave your pubes.
If you can’t be bothered,
don’t shave your pubes.
It’s as simple as that.
Iron your pants.
Do not iron your pants.
Make
your own
choices.
Make love.
Make cookies.
Make friends.
Make happiness.
Do not let other people
tell you the recipe.
Your heart knows
the recipe.
Listen to it.
Hate Shakespeare,
even though everyone
will disagree with you.
Express your opinions.
Listen to other people’s opinions.
Disagree politely,
unless you
really,
really
disagree.
In that case, fight them.
Love your friends.
Even when you want to
hate them.
Help your friends.
Even when they do not want
your help.
Quit smoking cigarettes.
Don’t quit smoking weed,
but acknowledge the fact that
you are psychologically
addicted to it.
Masturbate.
Frequently.
Smoke weed,
and then masturbate.
(Trust me,
it will improve the experience).
Live.
Live loudly.
Live without fear.
Live like a poet.
Feel
everything.
Fall in love.
Fall in love with the moon.
And the trees.
And the grass.
Fall in love with
the world in general.
Allow yourself the opportunity
to hope.
Or to cry.
Do both,
simultaneously.
Multitask.
Read three books at once.
Lose track of all the poems you
haven’t written yet.
Get back on track.
Write them.
Even the bad ones.
Be the bad one.
Break the law.
Tell stories.
Make stories.
Stitch together
a patchwork quilt
of stories.
Tuck yourself in at night.
Do not forget
to say
thank you.