You Do the Right Thing

doing the right thing

is not the easy thing

it’s not the popular thing

it’s the right thing

it’s the thing you would do regardless

of who is looking

of who is caring

of who you are

in relation to

your friends

your family

your life

is a puzzle

as you get older

you figure it out

when you were small

you couldn’t even find the pieces

now you have them

but where do they go?

where do you go

to find yourself?

to steel yourself

against the harsh, acrid winds

of judgment and shame?

you go where you have to

you shut up

and learn what you need to

so that when the time comes

you do the right thing.