I had a protected childhood
Once upon a little hill with many trees
And few cars

Someone has been guarding all that time

I had such protection that I could never have guessed
How life would turn
My first boyfriend against his own
Why it would doom my friend
To roll instead of stepping
And who becomes famous for
Going to jail

When I realized that I was no longer protected, just
Somehow spared, I reached to the bigger brother
Of my small birth-state
To have and to hold
And found sickness and thin models
Within those rivers of graffiti
Behind most Hollywood screens

I had a protected childhood, threatened by
Those millions of children outside and within
Hungry for the calm on my olive green hill
And I would always be spared
I was dealt better cards
Lucky hands
Paid in advance as a birth-right loan
No interest, but
Guilty gratitude
I still possess guilt and gratitude
For this golden green-guard

I keep wishing these G's even up
With God