In Their Defense ~ Wednesday, February 25, 2026

About my family, what I could not tell you takes place behind closed doors

behind the sheer curtains, the facade, the veneer, the appearance, the cult

of personality, as denial embraces dysfunction as untrue

underneath this disguise of normalcy, all good, is what nature abhors

the void that is devoid of matter, what matters, emptiness, a vacuum

maybe I imagine, she says, I think too much, is it really my fault

yes, that is what she said, accountability, in a word, the sky blue

feelings and emotions overwhelm my body, I cannot understand

arguments that arise, ego gets in the way, just to stay in my room

maybe if I were good, I could have been better, not acting out a role

impossible, I know, they hold me to account, all my fault, I was bad

little bird, the black sheep, as the prodigal son, I was out of control

yes, it was all my fault, they would have been normal, whatever that means, sad

welcome to my old age, mom says she is dying, how things get out of hand

how different things could be, without the alcohol, the neglect, lack of care

a sadistic brother, latch-key kids together, hateful cruelty means

the world lacks all value, behind closed doors, time fades, but how the scars remain

I lied, I stole, I hurt, no one saw me transform, a hopeless child, I dare

call out my family, my brother and cousin, hateful and horrible

only they feel nothing, all I feel is anger, my pockets full of beans

understanding nothing, a child abused and harmed, will soon go quite insane

left alone to play drums, I formed a band and smiled, but sorrow pulled me down

depressed, I lost my job, crying all of the time, lost my girlfriend, scribble

no one knows, no one cares, the truth hidden, unknown, meetings and therapy

only I got better, I could make sense of pain, memories and sorrow

trust me, though they will not, my family, just words, power as tyranny

trust me, though I cannot, I cannot trust myself, ingrained as to borrow

each moment, full of debt, credit against future success, I fail and drown

let me go, let me dream, my dreams all gone, too late to save, to salvage dreams

let me be, let me die, I am so tired, now, tired of running miles

yet, death does not listen, with selective hearing, but the walls hear my words

only, my ancestors, my birth, arbitrary, and the walls hear my screams

understanding nothing, this world never makes sense, suffering is a clue

trouble is I am warped, a worthless plank of wood, experience, no smiles

answers to the questions, why people act the way they do, the little birds

kissing, full of kindness, love is sweet, not hollow, I am a hollow log

ever sweet, as a child, I became a victim, a survivor, I flew

swiftly away, refuge, nowhere but within mind, loving-kindness, I trust

promises of others never, but make amends, I grew, I knew I would

lasting impressions scar, happiness, all but gone, maybe I should lick rust

ask me not of the past, nothing of the future, would if I could, I should

call out the violence, as punishment for deeds, heart of gold, as a hog

emptiness envelopes every experience entering ecstasy

but with enlightenment, my suspicions aroused, sit around on my ass

even if I could find meaning in religion, this sorrow is pain

how never to reflect, to dwell on the horror, to write an elegy

ignorance hides behind closed doors, full of neglect, shame and blame, lack of care

no, but in their defense, food, clothing, and shelter, school and learning, smoke grass

despite being too young, and I drank alcohol, to emulate, no gain

concrete ideas occur, shape an adolescent, politics as a friend

languish in solitude, once my friends moved away, with whom, then, could I share

objective awareness, the big picture, details, logic, philosophy

solutions to problems, but the world does not care, they want to make money

everything in the world revolves around money, I went out with Sophie

destined to fail, my French not up to speed, charming, black coffee and honey

defend their excesses, the family unbound, I left, came to an end

objects get in the way, beautiful distractions, obstacles and hurdles

obey unspoken rules, but not to understand, now, too little, too late

remember the cleaver threatening a small boy, to cut his hands off, great

silence, crimson as blood, as royalty, noble circles, life is marbles

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