the real deal

just who do i think i am ?
how dare i call any of you on anything ?

i do not trust you
any of you
your intentions are blatantly clear
your good intentions have never been enough
where have they ultimately led
for you, for me, for any of us ?

spare me your good intentions
tell me the truth if you dare
you would sacrifice me in a heartbeat
without a second thought
you and you and you
there is no doubt

i have died....and many like me
so many cruel merciless deaths by you and you and you
through your indifference and socially condoned blindness

where were any of you
while we were strapped down and tortured ?
by our very own father
in our very own home
over and over and over again
many of you knew of this
or certainly suspected
many of you could hear our cries in the night
where were any of you ?

conveniently hiding in plain sight
there in your plush surroundings
couched in front of your c.b.c. newscast
letting it all play out before your eyes
so you could say you are socially aware
so you could convince yourself you care

oh oh....turn down the sound on your HD TV....now !
hurry....you don't want to hear our screams
and the woeful sobbing once the screams exhaust themselves
you don't want to see how tiny and defenseless we have always been

hurry, change the station, you can turn our truth off just like that
why not ?
what the hell ?
as simple as that
a click of the precious almighty clicker
problem solved
next soundbite please

i know you know that i and those like me
suffer horrific torture and abuse
right here
right now
i know you know you could easily help
if only
if only what ?

perhaps there is nothing you can say or do
or is there ?
are you NOT saying or doing something when you might otherwise act or speak ?
do you know of someone ?
do you suspect ?
do you keep silent ?
if so, do you know why ?

are you one of the silent criminals ?
are your sins those of indifference and omission ?

are those who suffer trembling now in the next room ?
waiting, wondering, hoping to be spared just for tonight

forgive you ?
i don't think so
not a chance
where were you ?

it's too late for me
where are you for those who suffer still ?

this broken soul-raped being shouts now for justice
not for pity
not even for understanding
but for justice and social responsibility
not for me....but for those who still have a chance
if rescued soon enough

we are all complicit
silence serves only to perpetuate the suffering

who are we if we do not rise up and speak
for those who cannot defend themselves ?
this isn't about you....or me
but us....all of us
it is our children that suffer....now !
it is our decisions that might save them....now !

is this the legacy we wish to leave for them
one of silence, indifference, smug complacency ?

go ahead, make a liar out of me....please !