Why am I always afraid
Why is everything my fault
Why is the world such a sad place
Why isn’t it safe
Why doesn’t it make sense
WHY IS IT WRONG FOR ME TO BE HAPPY
Because my child,
When you asked why
You were lied to,
over and over again
And then, tired,
They said, stop asking why
But you didn’t stop
So they locked you in a cage
Tired
Afraid
Alone
With your unanswered questions
Even in the cage
You kept asking why
And then they became angry and yelled
SHHHH CHILD, LEAVE US ALONE!
WHY CANT YOU SEE
WE LOCKED YOU IN THIS CAGE
BECAUSE THE WORLD IS BETTER OFF WITHOUT YOU
They lied
Because the truth would break them
They can’t bear to see
Each one of them
Is also in a cage
Tired
Afraid
Alone
Forbidden to ask why.
Helen Mildenhall
October 2021