To those who have sent their condolences, thank you.
We take your words, your sad looks, your sighs,
but the grief we feel is of another kind.
We don't mourn his loss, this man with no name.
We grieve the scars, the endless pain.
He was a father, a brother, a friend,
a husband, a son... and a curse to the end.
Behind closed doors, where shadows creep,
he stole our breath, he stole our sleep.
With hands that bruised, with words that cut,
with silent warfare, he left us shut.
He drained our souls, he bent our minds,
he took and took, left none behind.
We smiled! We sang! We wore the mask.
We hid the torment - a painful task.
Because family stays, right? And family hides.
So in our silence, more life died.
but the grief we feel is of another kind.
We don't mourn his loss, this man with no name.
We grieve the scars, the endless pain.
He was a father, a brother, a friend,
a husband, a son... and a curse to the end.
Behind closed doors, where shadows creep,
he stole our breath, he stole our sleep.
With hands that bruised, with words that cut,
with silent warfare, he left us shut.
He drained our souls, he bent our minds,
he took and took, left none behind.
We smiled! We sang! We wore the mask.
We hid the torment - a painful task.
Because family stays, right? And family hides.
So in our silence, more life died.
But finally, we walked away. We had to flee
to save ourselves, our sanity.
Then whispers came, "Where have you gone?"
Then whispers came, "Where have you gone?"
They judged us since we left him alone.
We waited so long for words unsaid,
a hint of sorrow, a past to mend.
We hoped he’d try, we hoped he’d see,
and own his wrongs, and just say sorry.
We waited so long for words unsaid,
a hint of sorrow, a past to mend.
We hoped he’d try, we hoped he’d see,
and own his wrongs, and just say sorry.
Yet silence reigned, no peace was sought,
no weight of guilt, no lessons taught.
So we forgave, for our own hearts' sake
because our peace he shouldn't take.
And now he’s dead. At last, sweet peace!
And now he’s dead. At last, sweet peace!
For us, the broken, we've found release.
We do not mourn him, but what he stole,
the years, the love, the fractured whole.
We do not mourn him, but what he stole,
the years, the love, the fractured whole.
So thank you for the words you sent,
but mourn instead what did not mend.
And if you wish to bring us cheer,
don't say, "I'm sorry," but "You're here!"
We survived! We didn't die.
We made new lives, we didn't cry.
We learned to laugh, to love, to live
and still found joy and more to give.
Congratulate us please for breaking free,
for finding strength, for daring to be.
So thank you for your condolences true,
But today, we celebrate! We really, really do.
* * * * * * *
I believe we should not speak ill of the dead. But I also believe, more strongly, that we should not speak lies. Silence may honor the dead, but it dishonors the victims - and they are many. Silence protects evil.
Imagine, this man who died was estranged from his wife, daughters, and sisters. Ever wonder why? And still, because of our silence, people think he was a good guy. Would a good guy repel the women in his family? Pay attention. We didn't have to say anything. Our actions were loud and clear. This man was a bad man. That is his true legacy.
