Since I was a child
I have fervently
Tried to filter out
Negative echoes
Of our history  
And focus
On each one.

Echoes are
Shockwaves
Throughout
Society
Building strength
And momentum as
They damage then
Ricochet off one
Person to another
Like a viral or
Bacterial infection
Mutating and building
Up resistance to our

Strong
  Mediocre
And
  Often
Feeble
Societal
Antidotes.

I try as many do
To be a  
Shock absorber --
A small part of
The solution;

Trying to help break
The vicious cycle by
Somehow attempting
To
Absorb the shockwaves

To help prevent them
From hitting someone
Else
Or at least
Lessening their strength
And momentum --

A form of harm
Reduction
I suppose.

Just lending an ear
And
Lending a shoulder
To lean on or
Cry on
Seems to be
An integral part in

Lessening the
Negative
Effects.