The Hurting Man

He carried a heavy burden
And fell beneath its weight
There were few who felt sorry
But plenty full of hate

When he needed sympathy
A barrage of insults came
When he needed brotherly love
He was met with only shame

All the good he’d ever done
Was immediately forgotten
Now he was labelled a criminal
Disgusting and rotten

He didn’t choose to be this way
And he did his best to hide it
But now his secret’s out
And people can’t abide it

His reputation lies in tatters
There’s nowhere he can go
To escape the verbal abuse
From those who know

People find him abhorrent
Detestable and vile
The lowest of the low
The cursed paedophile

We’ll do well to remember
As we pass him by
There but for the grace of God
Go you and I