Lynching a Madwoman Takes Real Moral Courage

A place of refuge beckons there
So seemingly secure,
But thugs and bullies have a lair
Beyond that open door.
Where hypocrites pontificate
And stealth abusers dominate,
They only will exacerbate
The traumas known before.

The weary wounded stumble in,
Told they are safe at last
By predators who sit and grin
Awaiting a repast.
With cloying words of phony praise,
The narcissists prepare to graze;
Their targets, in dependent daze,
Compete to be harassed.

Each endlessly repeats a tale
Of post-traumatic hell,
But of abuse within the pale
Each is forbid to tell.
The ones who see are forced to leave;
For banished friends the remnant grieve;
Yet the remainder still believe
That place can make them well.

I wrote this, some time ago, after witnessing incredibly vicious behavior directed towards someone who was clearly unwell, by people who knew the person, knew the problem, and were supposedly there to "help".

[No, thank God, it wasn't me.]

It's time to share it.

It is dedicated to every individual, anywhere, who has survived abuse only to be re-traumatized by an abusive recovery group, whether faith-based, secular, 12-step, online or in realspace.