Please Teach Me Melanie Marie [work] May 2026

I painted my nails with the juice of a blackberry While the grown-ups screamed sorry on a broken TV My teacher’s a doll with her mouth sewn tight She said, “Color inside the lines, dear, or you’ll lose your light”

— Crybaby, age 8 forever

But I like the drip I like the mess The ugly truth in a pretty dress Mommy’s perfume and a rusted key The nursery rhyme that bit me please teach me melanie marie

I bit the apple — it tasted like plastic The prince turned out to be mildly sarcastic So I built a castle out of carousel horses And changed all the rules mid-lesson, of course-es I painted my nails with the juice of

Pacifier in my pocket A match in my hand If you can’t be my wonderland Then I’ll be my own Neverland “Color inside the lines

Oh, darling, don’t grow up too fast They’ll sell your tears in a champagne glass They’ll call you crazy, call you sweet Then tie pink ribbons around your feet