I failed and my penance is
to visit this sick monument
to our shared statues of despair.

I cared and tried to explain
how we share pains
but my explanations
were made in vain.

I raged against
greed and violence,
tried to craft the most cogent
arguments to prop up love
over hate and ignorance.

I survived
and my reward
was to live for a lost cause,
cuz I wasn't good enough
to get through
to all of you.

Now, I weep for all the youth
who will never get to try,
never be born so they can never die.