Babysitting a reckless nation

Photo by mali desha on Unsplash

When it totters on tiptoes to reach for something unsafe
it doesn't help to silently shout a word of warning,
or when it jumps on couch cushions
grabs at knives
pull open drawers and attempts to climb to the ceiling
using them as steps,
wants to run out the front door to play in traffic
or deals far too roughly with the dog.
No one listens to your silent screams, or even the loudly vocalized ones.
The toddlers are in charge, and the sane adults have left the building.