In a society that claims to value individual freedoms—it's a shame that people are (still) ridiculed for simply being themselves. There's no reason that anyone should have to hide or live a lie because they fear being ostracized, hurt, or even killed. It's unacceptable. We've lost too many due to the hateful, intolerant ways of others in this world. It must end. In tribute to those we've lost, here's "Gone Too Soon," a poem from the "Life" section of my book Prevail: Poems on Life, Love, and Politics.
Gone Too Soon
Battling,
Fighting
with the world everyday,
Trying
to stand firm on ground that changes like DC metro area weather,
Not
knowing when it's safe to be you, or when it's best to retreat:
It's
safer on the inside—sometimes.
The
golden era ended quicker than you could comprehend.
And
you were thrust upon the audacity of disgust and hatred
From
people you thought were your friends,
People
you thought were your family,
People
who said they loved you but you just can't seem to trust.
You've
walked a line that many people claim they can handle but couldn't, even if
humanity depended on it.
It's
a line that you don't want to walk.
It's
a line that often runs faster than the speed of sound and light, with a
soundtrack that repeats daily.
And
you're tired of hearing it.
Living
in a world where people get high off of ridicule and bullying,
One
is left numb,
Not
wanting to deal.
The
help you need never arrives when you need it.
It
always comes too late.
You
push and push,
And
push and push.
And
you keep pushing,
But
the force always seems to kill your spirit.
It
was at first a temporary thing,
But
the period of death began to outlast the periods of rebirth.
There's
a lot that you can and have dealt with,
But
it's the pain and its lasting effects
That
cut you down to nubs,
The
hurt practically defying man's comprehension of depth.
If
you could only find relief,
A
sweet release from it all …
If
only …
If …
The
inner light quickly fades.
Time
halts,
And
you succumb to a place
Where
your spirit will forever reign.
You'll
be safe from harm and healed
From
a lifetime of pain.
If
only it didn't have to come to this.
If
only …
If …
You'd still be here.
If only …
If …
You could’ve been saved.
Prevail: Poems on Life, Love, and Politics is available at iUniverse, Amazon (Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle), Barnes & Noble, Book-A-Million (Paperback | Hardcover), and other retailers.
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