dear Earth

dear people

dear family

dear friends

dear those who look up at me

and those who look down

dear the ones who pass by me in the hallways locking eyes but never saying a word

dear everyone who’s said but never done

and dear anyone who’s been close but far

do you ever notice the pain in someone’s eyes or really listen to what they say

do you understand

do you try to understand

do you stand still

do you try to stop it

no

you pass by without saying a word

you’re the one who’s close but far

the one who does not try to understand

the one who looks down

the one who causes the pain

and never the one

to speak