Self

Empathy Thrives in the Garden of Compassion

But don’t over-water with tears

Heart was suffering Could not bear the heavy weight Of too much empathy

Nurtured compassion To balance bleak emotions Shattered by your pain

I cannot help you If I’m standing in your shoes I will trip and fall

I’ll walk beside you Identify the baggage You can throw away

Then I shall leave you Striding with a lighter load Into the future

Backstory

I wrote an article about empathy a year ago, before I began writing poetry.

Reading a haiku by Tree Langdon, CPA, CGA this morning inspired me to convert my ideas in that story into poetic form.

My poem is neither a haiku nor a senryu as it comprises five verses, none of which stand on their own as a complete idea.

But what the heck, I love discipline of the 5–7–5 structure!

And breaking the rules.

Thank you for being here.

Here’s the story I wrote last year:

And here’s Tree Langdon’s poem: