in parentheses

what are you going to do?
what are you going to do?
what are you going to do?
what are you going to do?

if there were a dollar for every time i got asked that question
all my debt would be resolved
and nothing would really matter at that point.

people my age have one or two or even three jobs
just to get by.
some of those jobs are unpaid
because we should be grateful to learn a thing or two.

people my age are trying to do something because
soon our parents will be dead (if they’re not already)
which means we’re going to have some decisions to make.
we might be parents and we might be bosses one day,
if we are i hope we stop telling everyone what to do.
if there’s one thing i’d like for my generation to be remembered for
it would be holding the door open.

what are you going to do?
what are you going to do?
what are you going to do?
what are you going to do?

if i see another list or article
about what twenty year olds should or shouldn’t do
i will light something on fire.
it will probably be a cigarette,
because i can’t afford to burn much else,
you know?