by Patricia Arnold

Created on: August 22, 2009

The Walking Wounded

You may know just who they are,

they often dwell amongst us,

the walking wounded, full facade,

at work, at church, regaled in full uniform.

The smiles and cool demeanor mask,

the hurt, the pain, and sheer terror,

of being outed.

Yearning for kindness of spirit, understanding;

a pleasant word or gesture.

With steely resolve, with all their might,

in effort to prevent it,

a word wrongly placed, a slight unintended,

causes catastrophic flashbacks.

The pain and lonliness come flooding,

like a broken dam.

Walls are built and rebuilt-

to guard against leakage.

Soon, there is a stone fortress,

to keep everyone out ,

and, no one gets in.

You may know just who they are,

they often walk amongst us.

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