Popped again,

Pipe in my pocket,

Probable cause?

A brief search of the home,

And a half dozen seeds of dubious origin.

So now I’m going down

For endangering my own son.

One question remains.

Where were you?

When my sister was molested

By one of our own,

My stepfather.

I, beaten by the same

The end of trust.

Where were you?

Kidnapped by the neighbor boys,

Held against my will,

Tortured with punches

And with kicks-

Bloodied and bruised,

The end of friendship.

Where were you?

Hitch-hiking to town

Picked up by a pervert

And molested in his car

The end of innocence.

Where were you?

When my psychotic wife

Accused me of abusing my own kids,

Won in the courts,

Lost my children,

The end of love.

Where were you

When over and over and over

My vehicle my home my person

Were violated by those

You are sworn to protect me from-

The end of liberty.

Where were you?

“To protect and serve”

You have never protected me,

You have never served me,

You have beaten me

And taken away my freedom

The end of hope.

And where are you now?

Standing over my broken body,

Bleeding and alone.

You, taking notes,

Witnessing the horror.

The end of life.

One question remains…

Where the fuck were you?