People in a small town
They like to laugh,
About good hearted things,
Stupid things,
And things that crack people’s hearts.
Not all things should be used
As a joke
As a pun.
Some talk about what has happened to them.
Some have worked to see justice done.
Others remain silent, to avoid the
Spotlight.
Communities, especially those in a small town,
Or close-knit social groups,
They tend to have a knack
For pointing the beam
The finger
Ready to hurt people more
Whether or not they mean to,
Because words find blame.
Words are
blame.
Whether or not
A person has chosen
To speak, it does not mean
That there’s not something wrong;
That there’s
not a pain
Fighting and drowning.
Perhaps they’re scared.
Perhaps they don’t feel safe.
Perhaps they’re still working up the strength.
Perhaps they don’t want
To be made
as a victim.
Perhaps they’re just trying to hold on
Maintain
who they are
Allow you to keep the façade.
But even as a community of two
Or two
million—
It is the duty of others to respect.
What happened to true respect?
People need to feel like they won’t be judged,
Like there is a haven,
Otherwise, they may just be struggling
Locked in
the inside,
Waiting with time.
