Doris R. Vega

GOING SILENT, LOCKING UP

Going silent, locking up
Having overcome the fear, one day
Reaching out in desperate need, experiencing lies
Pretty much, expected to
That the very people who claim to care, always
Who claim to love, and understand
Live in delusion, isolated bitterness
Rationing compassion, drop by drop
Selectively connecting, in a crowd
Discriminating just as remembered, long ago
Comforting only, those who are worthy
Their own, unable to forgive
Nurturing hurt, in inner circles of suspicion
Blind to unfamiliar pain, as if it weren’t
Jealously guarding attention, recognition too late
Having seen it all, watching for decades
The same destruction, hopelessly entrenched
Where a lifetime of waiting, hands outstretched
Judgment, never even an issue
Returned exactly nothing, endlessly taking
Giving impossible, they say
Respecting choices, despite the can’t
Hearts broken, unable to mend
On both ends.