invited 
into an elite fellowship

of the broken and battered and bruised
called to connect myself 
with those of unfortunate fate
buried in shadows of pain and regret.

Those "they" forgot,
left with no recourse, no options, no hope.

No way of knowing how the tide would turn in their favor.

Weakened by difficulty,
stretched by adversity,
black-widow pasts, 
witless windows closed,
doors slammed in faces,
tear-stained remembrances of 
being dumped, dropped, dissed, skipped over and left behind.

I understand,
I empathize.
Cried bitter tears 
from weary eyes.

Looked past the possible,
head dropped in defeat,
channeled disappointment 
to duty-bound retreat.

I see your efforts.
Your wounds are real.
Dim expectation
for your heart to heal.

Drunk with bile,
reduced to gangrene
as rich blood spills 
from your broken dreams.

Banished from care,
Rejected by peace
Discharged from warmth
No sign of release.

Aching from angst
Dripping with fear
Clinging to confusion
Dodging the jeers.

Drenched in delusion
Bleached by the fire
Bludgeoned and bitter
From stillborn desire.

My kindred society
of the damaged and doomed
Yet a sliver of hope
from the distance looms.

Hold on, my friends, 
we shall find our repose
We are gems in disguise
yet no one knows.

Once we reach our oasis.
recompensed once for all
Vindication is waiting
For wrongs big and small.

We just have to get there;
why should fate be so cruel
to disallow us our right
to turn fire into fuel.

There has to be better,
waiting just beyond this wall
This barrier of afflictions
that has stunted us all.

It will all be better
When exoneration ensues.
And the brisk hope of sunshine
Beams down on these bruises.