The List

As the darkness consumes your silence remains

Don't you see me?

Sitting third row from the front

A terrifying night has me drifting in and out of sleep

Not compassion, but harsh frustration wakes me up

Bruises catch your eye and soften your words

Only thing more obvious were my lies, so well-rehearsed

Question's hang in between

Your silence makes me want to scream

An uneasy feeling twisted in your gut

You never asked why?

Uncertainty freezing your feet and keeping your mouth shut

For saving I couldn't ask, and you didn't try

Don't you see me?

Hours on end wondering and playing

Yesterday's clothes hinting there is more to the story

Being neighborly must be nothing more than a saying

Screaming so loud it made you pause

Silence of a slap giving you cause

Resolve to intervene halted by hesitation

Missing details and fear of litigation

So, the volume goes up and curtains close

Children have a resilience they will bounce back

If things get really bad you will know

Your inaction chalked up to inexperience and missing facts

Don't you see me?

Crass and sexual words leave my lips

You give me a look and then whisper to your kids

Protecting them at my expense

Family means supporting one another

No one is supposed to be left behind

Instead of intervening you sit and talk about my mother

To my desperation, you are deaf and blind

I am drowning in pain

As the darkness consumes your silence remains

I have added you to the long list of names

Trust is by action, not words obtained