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Naomi Shihab Nye’s poem “Kindness” resonated with me on so many layers. Her line that inspired this difficult poem is “You must wake up with sorrow.”

Sorrow is a Sickbed

Sorrow is a sickbed of fever and sweat

Burning, welcoming death.

Terror and darkness envelope

The room, filling it with dread.

Kindness are the hands that wash my body

Broken, pricked, pierced

With sickness, tragedy

Sweet fragrance of soap replaces dread.

Sorrow is losing hope

That they will ever come around

Bringing the shards of hurt

As an offering to burn them up.

Kindness is the Encourager

An Angel to say

“You will get better,

You will be stronger”.

Making sickness my friend

Gave me the kindness

Of others, their

Sacrifices, their gifts.

Joy does come in the morning

As a light that pierces the night

Wrapping me in

Coverings of Love.

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This is such an evocative poem, Sharmen. It took a lot of courage to write and to share. Thank you.

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Yes, it did take courage. Naomi's poem sparked and fuelled that courage.

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That's one of the gifts of poetry, don't you think? Giving us courage to find the words we need to write.

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I often say that poetry allows us to work out life on paper before we have to really work it out. Poetry has given me the gift of voice when I had no words to speak. I truly appreciate this platform that you've created for poets to share their hearts and souls through poetry.

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I'm so glad you're here, Sharmen.

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Thank you, fine poem and accompanying words.

Yes, you must "lose things" in order to "find" yourself.

“In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.” Tom Bodett

“The way to love anything is to realize that it might be lost.” Gilbert K Chesterton

“We are the Lessons learned from the Tests of Time tossed to us by Life. The ultimate Test is Loss. The Lesson you have learned from Loss is Who You Are. Let that be Love.” Every Man Jack

https://www.facebook.com/LOSSLINKS

Get free, then stay safe.

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Loss & Love. I like that.

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