Show Me What Kindness Looks Like
Show me what kindness looks like.
So in the darkness, he touched her arm—
once milk-white silk-clad
trafficked now, elbow to wrist,
in one line of hope after another.
Touch my wounds with kindness.
So in the darkness, he touched his muscle of remembrance—
fingering gently
what he could neither see nor make believe.
Kindness never gets you an audience.
And so he said—
faith is always tested
stitches always itch.
Pray kindness takes me.
So in the darkness, he touched—
lips to air, feeling the weight
of edging tears
rending frail-woven endings.
Speak kindly of me when I'm gone.
And so he turned once more to after—
the grip seeded of limits
letting go but one quick second
before turning red again with his single heart's pulse.
Copyright © 2010 Maureen E. Doallas. All Rights Reserved.
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I wrote this poem for today's Blog Carnival and for Carry On Tuesday #41.
The Blog Carnival, a biweekly online event open to anyone, is sponsored by Bridget Chumbley at One Word at a Time and Peter Pollock at Rediscovering the Church. Today's prompt is "kindness". Go here for a list of links to all of the contributions.
Carry on Tuesday provides each week as a writing prompt a quote that is to be used wholly or partly in original prose or poetry. The prompt for February 23 is the opening line from Michael Crichton's 2004 novel State of Fear: "In the darkness, he touched her arm and said. . . ." Go here for a list of links to all of the participants' sites.
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17 comments:
This is really beautiful. You leave me wanting more, wanting to re-read, ponder.
Oh, Maureen. All I can say at this moment is oh. I'm moved to tears.
Okay, so you made me cry. This is beautiful. A reflection of your kind heart and spirit.
Hugs
Louise
"Pray kindness takes me" - Gulp! That was beautiful, Maureen.
some very powerful truths here ...
Kindness is Maureen sharing her deep insight with a waiting world unseen but completely known.
Thank you!
the labor pains of kindness born
What katdish said... those were four very powerful words, Maureen.
This is my favourite of all the poems I have read by you.
Very moving.
I'm barely treading water here. The current is strong and deep where you lead us.
This pulls my heart.
This is such a tender and moving piece. A beautiful piece of composition
That was a very beautiful poem Maureen!
This poem is very moving - thank you.
I read this one every day.
Beautifully-written poem Maureen. I especially loved your words, "Kindness Never gets you an audience."
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