Unenviable Existence

We try to move forward from a past life that haunts
A life that wasn’t engrossed by jewels and debutantes

A life that drove stakes through our flesh and our souls
A life that left us jaded, our hearts left with holes

Those of us who lived it know the rewards of our pain
We know how our suffering also helped us gain

We can see through the lies that others dare to tell
We can maintain a smile while walking through hell

The ignorant will call us “the less fortunate of society”
The enlightened will be impressed by our sobriety

The officials will say we are sick, or even dangerous
The artificial will find reasons to become traitorous

Individuals judging us while we continue our fight
They wouldn’t understand why we can’t sleep at night

Mistakes, repercussions, memories, choose to reside
Traumas, loss, regret, pain, dwell deep inside

The end is our beginning, hope is our blessing
Our future is bright although our past is depressing

The pain fuels our fire, without it we’d be lost
Knowing where we’ve been and elevating at any cost

We have to make efforts to do what is just
They have to make efforts to gain any of our trust

An unenviable existence yields the greatest reward
We accept our delegation, retrospectively deplored