If

If they would listen
they would hear her pain.
They would know her sorrow.
They would cure it.

If they would look
they would see her beauty.
They would know her worth.
They would appreciate it.

If they would stop
they would taste her tears
they would feel her falling away
they would smell her sweat.

If they would listen
they would hear what she has to say.
They would help her grow to all she can be.
They would know that they have the blame,

but they just put more bricks
on her back,
tighten her leash
around the doorknob on the front door,
and whip her back to work,

and she works to drown out the tears.