Witnessing II

Honesty is the essential problem of all abused children.

First we must determine what the reality around us is,
defining with eyes unclouded by other people's wants and needs.

They we must learn unremitting honesty with ourselves.

The temptation will be to bend the truth here,
because it's more convenient,
because no one gets upset,
because we wish to please;
or tell partial truths there; misguided altruism,
wanting to protect someone else's feelings.

No matter how hard we work to speak the truth,
there will always be other old, abused children,
crying out to us to keep the secrets,
and other old abusers,
demanding the complicity of our silence.

©2012

poem by Lynn Cohen
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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