Prison Bars Do Not Clap

Silence is the greatest injustice of good people
The back of an empty hand facing tyranny
Hides the indifferent coward
Who chooses to be invisible
When the clouds begin to gather
Preferring the comfort of shade
The darkness takes over all until
You can no longer see the Sun.

Denial is the testimony of innocent bystanders
The face of an open hand facing oppression
Refuses to pay the cruel invoice
Denying a transparent guilt
Joining the storm by default
Camouflaged by excuses
They resemble the guilty ax
And gushes in the color of victims.

Fear is the whore who beds reluctant actors
The stage for breeding anger and hate
Bending over in a ill-advised gambit
And loses everything precious.
The foolhardy monkey reaches
For shiny promises and false reward
Or expecting applause only to realize
Prison bars do not clap, sadly.

Copyright © 2017 Charles Edward York
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