Shut Away

I wonder Lord how many people in the world are shut away,
Not in prisons, or hospitals, or institutions,
But in their own homes.
Not through illness or old age,
But because they cannot cope with people,
Or the world around them.

How many shun the company of other people
Because they cannot relate to them in a meaningful way.
How many are judged anti-social,
Or arrogant, or rude,
When their main problem is really fear?

Society lays down rules to which the majority conform
But what of those who can't conform?
Or those who don't want to conform
Even though they are not hurting others?
Are they forever damned
Because of their inability to be the same?
"All men are born equal",
But is there no room for the individual?

How many are condemned to a life alone
Because of barriers they cannot cross?
Because they feel that they are on one side of them
And the rest of the world is on the other.
I wonder Lord how many people in the world are shut away?