I remember as a child
Wondering why some people
Seemed scarier than others:
Hard, troubled, unfriendly,
Staring through me with
Cold expressions, barely
Able to say hello without
A scowl, making me want to
Get away from them as
Quickly as possible lest
Something disturbing happen;
As an adult, I still see them.
You will encounter
Many obstacles on
Your journey toward
Living the life you want.
Keep going,
No matter what,
You’re worth it.
The world awaits
Your wonderful gifts.
He has no interest in
Why we hurt each other
Because that would mean
Having to relive the
Terrifying memories that
Take up so much space
Inside him and never
Permit a moment’s peace.
He’s chosen instead to
Project his pain onto
Others, to make them the
Object of his fear and
Brokenness, subdue them
So he might feel a moment’s
Respite from the turmoil,
Instead of getting help and
Learning how to love again.
The stores that
Used to be frequented
By the middle class
Are dying at the
Same time malls close
For lack of visitors.
The luxury emporiums
Thrive as do the
Discount retailers,
Little in-between.
She was one of
The few who
Dared to follow
Her dreams,
Leaving herself
Vulnerable to
Being judged by
People who never
Had the courage to
Be themselves.
The clash between those
Who see the world solely
As an object to defile and
Pillage for personal gain
And people who understand
That we’re all on this
Fragile planet together and
That we flourish when we
Take care of one another.
You’re valuable,
Important,
Unique,
Extraordinary,
Wonderful,
Worthwhile,
Amazing,
Marvelous,
Magnificent.
You matter.
Corporations don’t care
A whit about people,
All their energy focused on
Generating as much profit
As possible regardless of
How many are damaged,
Ripped off, cheated,
Hoodwinked by the small print,
Denied crucial recourse,
Underpaid in sweatshops.
I’m sure they would vigorously
Defend themselves with
The standard drivel about
How they’re the engine that
Drives free societies, or
How they give a few dollars
Here and there to some cause,
The same stale excuses
Pronounced with oily sincerity
While they find new ways
To squeeze another dollar
Out of human beings.
I guess some people
Think it’s okay
To shame a child for
Not having money to
Pay for food,
A particularly
Reprehensible
Form of cruelty that
Never leads to
Anything but
Suffering.
This is how
Societies die.
