Lonely War

I am sorry;
you do not understand.

When you rejected the night sky,
you repudiated the stars.

When you ostracized the priest,
you attacked the parishioner.

When you battled against tears and won,
you denounced emotion as weakness.

You mistook an offer of kindness for a
sign of submission, a smile for a flag of surrender.

And, now, you wonder where they went,
your supporters who applauded when you entered the room.

They are still here, just down the hall, living
on life support, shivering and afraid
there’s nothing left of the man
you were before you
became scared
of losing your
lonely war,
in which
you are
the only
soldier.

About John Swinburn

"Love not what you are but what you may become."― Miguel de Cervantes
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