You glorify sacrifice from your bed, shed tears for the dead you never knew, and judge poverty you’ve never tasted—do you really believe you know anything at all?

A blistering, accusatory poem structured as five direct challenges to anyone who judges others without having lived their experiences.

_____________________________________________________________

Hey you!

Standing on a pedestal, all proud and tall,

being so judgmental, posting verdicts on the wall

Ever walked in their tattered shoes or worn their torn skin?

Do you really believe, you fool, you know it all?

_____________________________________________________________

Hey you!

Glorifying death, and singing laurels for the dead,

talking about sacrifice, straight from the comfort of your bed

Ever fought a war or perhaps shed a single drop of blood?

Do you really believe, you fool, that genuine are the tears you shed?

_____________________________________________________________

Hey you!

Have you ever felt the ridicule, the pain from the poisoned darts?

Have you ever heard the wailing of sad and broken hearts?

Ever fallen in love and faced the demons of rejection?

Do you really believe, you fool, you know life, full and in parts?

_____________________________________________________________

Hey you!

Have you ever experienced hunger or felt its jolting pangs?

Have you ever been bitten by poverty, with its bared fangs?

Ever slept a night in the open, without a single, little morsel?

Do you really believe, you fool, the bell of fate never clangs?

_____________________________________________________________

Hey you!

Have you ever seen the dead rotting under the scorching sun?

Have you ever lost someone, perhaps a loved one?

Ever seen someone returning from across the threshold?

Do you really believe, you fool, you can save yourself and run?