Beatrice Alesana-Rennie

The eraser erased my bad habits
While the pencil drew in new ones
The glue stick glued on a whole new face
As the scissors cut away my background and past
The ballpoint pen then made the changes permanent
While the colored pencils shaded in my body
The calculator changed my way of thinking
As the sharpener grazed over my rough edges
Finally, the ruler
I had to measure up to your standards
Now me and you
We walk, talk and think the same
Two moving as one
I don't even know who I've become
What I was before
You've changed me more than you'll ever know

He grows everyday
And thinks 'never die'
Life he will live his way
Hush-a-by baby, don't cry

Even though he's discriminated
He never asks why
He doesn't show he's intimidated
Hush-a-by baby, don't cry

The doctor's say he has limited time
And as the years pass him by
He becomes a relentless dime
Hush-a-by baby, don't cry

And as the sickness spreads
He doesn't whine or sigh
He isn't full of dread
Hush-a-by baby, don't cry

So the family, they prepare
But they put on a mask and lie
For maybe, maybe it will disappear
Hush-a-by baby, don't cry

And he says, now's my cue
Don't cry, for I'll be in the sky
Always watching over you
Hush-a-by baby, don't cry