Promise me son

Promise me son,

Do not go where I have gone

Do not see what I have seen

For I am less of a man for it, and regret most of what I’ve done.

Promise me son,

Do not poison your mind with chemicals,

Do not burn up what I gave you to attract warmth,

For I have seen many men die because they could not stand the cold.

Promise me son,

Do not trash the earth in the ways that I have

Do not act unconsciously,

For my conscious does not forget now what I’ve done

Promise me son,

Do not hand your heart out

Do not put yourself in the hands of others

For your heart will be scabbed and torn with wounds

Instead,

Do not go where I have gone

Keep your heart near

And you will be a happy man,

With peace of mind.