Solve this equation
Analyze this text
Recite these dates and events
Memorize this for the test
Repeat after me
Stay in your seat
Don’t stray from the others
Write a thesis
Pass the exams
Read this textbook
Listen to this lecture
And another
And another
Scribble these words in your notebook
Make studying your priority
Pay your taxes
Buy health insurance
Marry someone, anyone
Think logically, not emotionally
Raise your children
Force them to do their homework
Wrangle them in from playing
So they can solve this equation
So they know how to analyze this text
So they can recite the dates of the dead
So they can memorize it for their test
And when they repeat after me
They’ll stay in their seats
They won’t stray from the others
They’ll never be the reason for memorizing the dates
Or be researched for a thesis
Or the topic of a lecture
Or mentioned in a textbook
They’ll make their priority studying
They’ll marry someone, anyone
And they’ll be forgotten someday
Just like you