How we wept for you

And admired your humour and strength

Turned a blind eye to your occasional transgressions

Supported your coming to terms with your new self

Remarkable, we said

But we misunderstood you

The deep hurt

The generational harm

It was all about you

Your survival

The need to protect yourself at all costs

The freedom to hurt others

Get your retaliation in first

Suppress any condemnation

(however meek or mild)

With a swift and well-practiced raised finger

‘Remember’

It seems we did not know you at all

Now this

Horror born of needless trauma

Makes a mockery of our naivety

Lord, we feel ashamed

And all we have left is

The deepest

Darkest

Disappointment