Reflecting in Haiku - 4. The Cost of Silence

I said the right words;

And believed the lies you told.

It almost killed me.

If you only knew,

My thoughts, my hopes, my desires.

I’d be known, but loved?

Existence is sin,

When a person breaks the mold.

Unacceptable.

To be who I am,

To live a life of meaning,

I must be honest.

It’s not hate to speak -

To divide and isolate?

Othering in love.

Cut out what offends.

Diversity is evil.

Conformity rules.

Immigrants, queers, poor,

Women, young, old, and non-white;

Undesirables.

The greatest evil?

Empathy and Human Rights.

Liberal hubris, all.

Am I the problem?

How many labels apply?

Global gaslighting.

Speak up and suffer.

Be silent and disappear.

Where does freedom ring?

Life and Liberty…

The Pursuit of Happiness.

Yesteryear's ideals.

Hear the public voice -

It condemns my existence.

Does it speak for you?

So much is at stake,

Yet who can stand against God?

The Bible is clear.

Wait! WTF?!

Love God above all,

Then neighbors and enemies.

Jesus threw no stones.

That’s not the message,

Or modern man's persuasion.

Quick to pick up rocks.

An eye for an eye -

A holy amputation.

It’s for the children.

Our children learn fear.

And believe the lies we tell.

The death toll rises.