A group of people--
a clique--
bounded together,
not by love,
but by hate.

They don't dare to differ,
for differing is their hate
and hating is their differ.

They shun those who try--
to stand out.
Not because they really hate them
as they claim.

But because it is natural,
like a defense,
to shun and shut,
to diminish and destroy
anything that threatens

Their "reality" in fragile hands,
challenged by what they
see and hear.
So desperate to keep their world
still--
never changing.

Not from the influence of "them"
or from any outer source
unaccepted by the group.

So they stay in their worlds
as long as their "us" holds
and together they pray and hope
that they can shun everything along the way.

Everything that they can't agree on
is a tear in their group.
And in their willingness to avoid,
they shun and diminish and destroy.

They don't see it as hurt.
They see it as a mere act of survival.