drown the past

there are so many
of us that are damaged
from the past.
some hate men
and some hate women.
some despise
because of race,
or because of sexuality,
political leanings,
or simply because of
expression.

broken and bent,
we become trapped
by our experiences
rather than looking on
with curiosity
as to why we feel
the way we do.

so much harm is done
to us that we
have the tendency to
relate all harm
as being perpetrated
by those who have done
us harm in the past.
we use outward appearances
to dictate how we
respond in the future.
we see a certain race,
a certain sexuality,
a certain gender,
and assume that
since we were harmed
by that type of person,
all those types of people
are out to harm us.

we give light
to the probability
of future pains
from past sufferings.

we exclude entire
demographics
because of our
negative
experiences.

we use our past
to build walls
in the future
when we should be
trying to build
sepulchers
to the trials
we have endured.