(LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD)
MOTHER SAID,
"STRAIGHT AHEAD,"
NOT TO DELAY
OR BE MISLEAD.
I SHOULD HAVE HEEDED
HER ADVICE...
BUT HE SEEMED SO NICE.
AND HE SHOWED ME THINGS,
MANY BEAUTIFUL THINGS,
THAT I HADN'T THOUGHT TO EXPLORE.
THEY WERE OFF MY PaTH,
SO I NEVER DARED.
I HAD BEEN SO CAREFUL
I NEVER HAD CARED.
AND HE MADE ME FEEL EXCITED
WELL, EXCITED AND SCARED.
WHEN HE SAID, "COME IN!"
WITH THAT SICKENING GRIN,
HOW COULD I KNOW WHAT WAS IN STORE?
ONCE HIS TEETH WERE BARED,
THEN, I REALLY GOT SCARED
WELL, EXCITED AND SCARED
BUT HE DREW ME CLOSE
AND HE SWALLOWED ME DOWN,
DOWN A DARK SLIMY PATH
WHERE LIE SECRETS THAT I NEVER WANTED TO KNOW,
AND I KNOW THINGS NOW,
MANY VALUABLE THINGS,
THAT I HADN'T KNOWN BEFORE:
DO NOT PUT YOUR FAITH
IN A CAPE AND HOOD
THEY WILL NOT PROTECT YOU
THE WAY THAT THEY SHOULD
AND TAKE EXTRA CARE WITH STRANGERS,
EVEN FLOWERS HAVE THEIR DANGERS.
AND THOUGH SCARY IS EXCITING,
NICE IS DIFFERENT THAN GOOD.
NOW I KNOW:
DON'T BE SCARED.
GRANNY IS RIGHT,
JUST BE PREPARED.
ISN'T IT NICE TO KNOW A LOT!
...AND A LITTLE BIT NOT...