When I was little

I was a wild child

I would run and fall

And scrape up both knees

My mother would hold me

Let me cry

And whisper comforting things

To try to calm me down

While my father would tell me

To be tough and to dry my tears

And it worked

I focused not on the pain

But on how tough I would look

If I didn't cry

How proud my dad would be

How impressed the boys would be

To see a girl who doesn't whine

I grew up picking myself up

No matter how far I fell

Because you have to start young

If you want to grow up strong

Though does that apply?

When you are standing up fine?

But in your mind

You are

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