The speaker is a mother evaluating the harsh realities of the contemporary world. Having lived long enough to gain adult experience, she recognizes that the world is "at least fifty percent terrible" and admits she has shortened her own life in various ill-advised ways. She takes on the persona of a real estate agent trying to sell a dilapidated house, attempting to convince her family of the world's hidden potential despite the violence she observes around her.

The speaker's young children are innocent and unaware of the world's dangers, violence, and shortcomings. They represent the next generation stepping into a broken society. The speaker views them as possessing the potential to take the "good bones" of the earth and build something positive and beautiful out of a damaged foundation.