my coloring book

i scribble in my coloring book
i'm mad 'cause it's not like my brother's drawing pad
so i make great big ugly streaks on the pages

'cause it's the book's fault

why couldn't it be a real drawing book?
why does it have to be this stupid bunch of pictures?
of things i don't care about and didn't make myself?

if i could have my way, it would be full of blank pages you can see through
and I'd draw whatever I wanted
I'd use my new crayons
full of cobalt blue and sea foam green

and i wouldn't draw houses or roads
i'd draw pretty things
like my mom
and my brother
and my church

but they think that 'cause i'm just a kid, i'll be happy with simple shapes
and solid lines and things that don't matter

but if i had my brother's drawing book
I'd show them.
I'd show them the world the way I see it.
Not the way they want me to.