We Build Fragile Things

We built walls around their softest hands.  

Shielded them from storms, skies’ gray veins.  

Told them monsters dissolve with applause,  

that failure is simply a fleeting fog.  

We gave them medals just for trying,  

fed them lullabies heavy with sweet.  

Watched their hearts grow spotless, unscarred,  

as the world’s edges sharpened unseen.  

Now they flinch at a whisper of rain,  

their tongues dress doubt in gilded bravado.  

Their fingers clutch dreams with splintered ease,  

but let go when answers don’t fall clean.  

The weight of fragile things is invisible,  

but it bends the bones just the same.