The New Leprosy Poem

 The New Leprosy

I often think of leprosy when I think of the mentally ill. 

A true Health disparity still. 

Sitting alone, while we sit on a hill 

They sit in group homes 

In jails, a tiny cell, an underpass,

a tent.....a hell. 

All because they are different 

but they are sick all the same

But as a society we treat them isolated, mame

They beg, they plead

We say set boundaries, they bleed.

They bleed on the inside

While we tell ourselves 

There is a divide.

They made their choice long ago

But they don't choose much

No one wants their brain to loose touch

We sit on our soap box for so many

Yelling inclusion, diversity, and acceptance 

They don't get any.

They stare off if medicated right

Like a zombie with no might

If not they speak to the air, 

Some violent, lack care

Some friendly, some mean.

But they are people, 

they should be seen. 

They deserve dignity and 

respect as we all do.

Not like a leper not like a shrew

Ignored, alone, isolated

Cast down, cast aside.

No solution, we hide. 

But mental health 

is a public health problem too

Our mental drives our physical true

So how in a first world country that we live

there is no solution, no give?

What can we as a people group do?

We can love, and accept all that we see.

I like the writer Ram Dass, when he says think of a tree.

Each tree is different as we all are 

Some straight some bent, 

Some broken, some spent. 

But we accept and even admire them all

we don't think of the fall. 

So when we look at others think of a tree

Though beautiful and free

It's still a tree. 

I am pointing fingers at myself too

but we all need to do better not just a few.

                                                                      -Mary Lewis   8/23/22