The Price of Being Quiet

The Price of Being Quiet is a bold and unflinching poetry collection by Erica Ramey that exposes the devastating cost of silence within institutions meant to protect. Through sharp, emotionally charged verse, Ramey pulls back the curtain on the toxic culture of compliance, apathy, and performative care inside a residential facility for individuals with disabilities.

Told from the perspectives of frontline staff, these poems confront the cold realities of administrative power, systemic neglect, and the moral decay of those who lead without compassion. Characters like Nurse Ratchet, Mr. Magoo, and the elusive “Dr. Evil” come alive in biting, unforgettable portraits that blend satire with sorrow.

Yet at its core, this collection is a love letter to the ones who suffer quietly—the residents whose needs are ignored, and the staff who try to protect them from within a crumbling system. With haunting beauty and unrelenting honesty, The Price of Being Quiet challenges readers to question what we call “care,” and who pays the price when we stay silent.

For readers of institutional exposés, medical justice narratives, and poetry with a purpose—this is a voice that refuses to be silenced.