THE FORGOTTEN ONE

Turned away every day, even when I got a ticket to play

Running alone in a different circle from you, but I have nothing to prove

Wanting so much social attention, what does that do for you

The forgotten one left behind because it was fun

Lost in verbal abusiveness without one witness

Victim blaming is the way to cover up the shame

  

So many problems looking for a fix, I don't want to pay for any of those tricks.

Resourceful or resentful, what does my mood have to do with you

Pushed away like we are in a crowd, don't ask where I am now

The forgotten one tries to run, hoping to look for fresher air a brighter sun.

Confused, placed in the corner of excuses. 

The crushing silence as if what I did was beyond violent 

A sign at the clubhouse door saying I am not allowed

The sounds of silence you make are so loud

No communion, no direction where do I go now

©Copyright Thomas J. Dooley 2021

DALITS

What is it in me that makes your perception of me

Why is including me just a means of excluding me

Is it I am not worthy of God's kiss because of this?

*Dalits is how I feel buried under these feeling

I dream of peace, love, and purity

But no one sees that in me

The list of my faults are long

I check the long list to try to change them all

But it is you that I wronged as my list goes on

Dalits is how I feel buried in the silence of unforgiven 

But asking forgiveness is just a sin

But this is how I know my place just to fit in

No matter where I place my shoes, no matter where I sit

I look inside for my own forgiveness, but how do I do this

When anyone sees my struggles, they are pushed back on me

Dalits is how I feel buried under the sweepings of leftover life.

Living in the night always wrong, never right

Proudly claiming the last place inline

No matter what I do, it is never good enough

When done with so much care and love

Alone I hear the father's wisdom as the forgotten son.

Dalits is how I feel buried under blocks of guilt.

Used to build a wall of silence shut off from the guidance

The respect I give the respect I receive is like tasteless *sabjiyaan 

©Copyright Thomas J. Dooley 2021

*Dalits the lost caste in Indian culture

*Hindi for vegetables 

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