Who are they?

They say

Wear your hair down and paint your nails

Don't wear sweatpants and ponytails

Don't curse, don't cry, don't have bad days

But who are "they," anyway?

They want you to keep your nine to five

Forget the things that make you feel alive

Eat a salad at your desk

And god forbid you ever just rest

After all, they know what's best

They say

don't speed, don't feel

don't be

anything real

Don't write poetry

Don't sing songs

Do smile a lot

and wear pretty thongs

"They" certainly say a lot of things

But who are "they" anyway?