Dejected

Dejected

Tears that ripped at their eyes obscured the truth,

Causing all they greeted to believe half-truths.

It wasn’t at all as it appeared to the world,

Causing those who saw them to reject the absurd.

Smiling faces, a facade, seen by passers-by,

Were in fact, masked hiding fear, soul’s sigh.

The voices behind closed doors slashing, lashing,

Tearing at life and limb, sending dreams dashing.

They spoke of none of these during times passing,

But in their hearts, words, and actions clashing.

Children shying, crying, sometimes felt as if dying,

As words and deeds mismatched always lying.

Children pretend, trying not to offend,

Those around them as they opt to pretend.

That life they were living secretly bending,

What was seen in public untruths sending.

Tell no one, speak even less of the distress,

For to say a word is the same as to confess.

But the thrashing, bashing, emotional terror,

Remains within the heart, crippling striped bearer.

They’ve said it was the way that things were,

Those days spoken in silence, remain a blur.

But whether it was accepted or rejected,

Those who suffered forever remain dejected.