Understanding

Have you ever asked yourself,
Who your walking next to?
Or who's face they really bare?
Have you ever even considered
What's behind the mask their wearing?
It's amazing how well they can play a roll.
What a convincing show
They can put on.
What shallow, memorized lines
They know like the back of their hand.
What struggling wars
Live within their being....
And we never even notice.
We never listen close enough
To hear the silent screaming.
We have not yet scrutinized
The dead gaze within his their lonely eyes.
Or noticed the bruises and scars they hide Beneath their sleeves.
We never see the mistakes,
We judge so openly
In front the the ones
Who have committed those mistakes.
So the next time
You thoughtlessly ramble on
Of things you do not understand,
Or think you do,
Stop in your tracks
And try to look through the eyes
Of mercy and understanding.