She stood in the middle
of town square, her voice raised,
intent on breaching
uncomfortable subjects.
She cries out her pain.
pretentious folks sit in their
big houses and watch in silence.
Most don't even know
she's there, for their curtains
remain closed, their ears shut.
But every now and then a curious soul
peeks through, pushing the window
upright so he, or she can hear her words.
They hear the soft wailing of
a woman distressed, the pain
and heartache in her voice
as she calls out for someone
anyone to listen.
Then the window is slammed shut
by a mother whose sons and daughters
will grow up blindly ignorant
never knowing that there is
something
many things
broken and ugly
about the world.
the truth
gets out anyway
Then something wonderful happens.
Those still peeking watch closely
as a woman approaches our distressed friend.
The wailing stops, wary and jaded,
she dances back and forth, left foot to right foot.
This new woman walks forward, her steps
echoing in the silence around them.
"I hear you," she whispers.
Time stops, and the curtains begin to open.
