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Elephant in the Room


There’s an elephant in the room.

It’s very large, and hard to get around,

But its possible to squeeze by with a

“How are you” and “I’m fine.”

Plus, the thousand other ways

You can check on me without bringing it up.

Yes, we all know she was murdered at five.

Yes, we know her dad and stepmom did it.

However, it seems taboo to mention it, so

We talk about work, school. Weather, and anything

Anything but the elephant in the room.

We all know it’s there, and

We all think about it as we talk. 

It never goes away;

Just gets bigger and bigger.

It’s so large it hurts us all.

Don’t bring it up to her family though

For that could be their last straw. 

You know, the one that broke the camel’s back.

Don’t talk about the elephant in the room

We might all lose it.

Say her name reeatedly though, and

Talk about her wonderful, though short life.

Maybe talk about her death just a little

It might make room

Room to grow, but

If we don’t talk about the elephant

I feel like I am alone with

Just the room and its elephant

Because its like being smothered.

The event happened in 2011

Its now 2018

The elephant males my heart

Feel as if it cannot beat.

For I miss her dearly

For two days before the murder

We curled her hair,

And did her makeup;

Standing in my grandmother’s bathroom.

I remember my teacher saying it was fake,

But I remember the pain

Of losing such a beautiful soul,

So please always talk about

The elephant in the room.

 
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Darrien Hertzler

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