Why am I crying?
I cry for those not allowed
to be who they are.

I cry for a child
beaten and insulted
derided and scorned
aged by words
denied a childhood.

I cry for a teenager
locked in a room
labelled as wicked
aged by words
denied youth.

I cry for an adult
trapped in a life
chosen by others
aged by words
denied freedom.

I cry for an old man
locked in a room
left by himself
aged by loneliness
denied company.

I cry for a corpse
embellished, disguised
made to look pretty
killed by words
denied truth.

I cry for you
beaten and insulted,
locked in a room,
trapped in a life,
left by yourself
made to look pretty
aged by words
denied life.