How?

How can I eat when I know someone just starved to death?

How can I sleep knowing a child has breathed it's last breath?

How can I sing when others cry?

How can I just sit and watch them die?

My heart is sick and my mouth is dry.

~~~

What can I do to help the endless suffering?

I give my body, heart and mind, give everything.

Will it be enough to matter?

Will it make a difference?

It does to me ..... it does to me

~~~

And if it seems like futility to you

If it sounds like such a silly thing to do

You follow your heart, I'll follow mine

Who knows, someday you might find

Your heart never really belonged to you

It belongs to everyone who needed you

~~~

So if you want you can join me in sacrifice

What we can do together is not too high a price

And if we never cure it all at least we tried

But the choice, of course, is your's to decide

Reviews

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You have certainly outdone yourself here. A very thought-provoking, emotionally sobering piece. I agree with everything you say. Often I ask myself similar questions:

"How can I eat when I know someone just starved to death?
How can I sleep knowing a child has breathed it's last breath?
How can I sing when others cry?
How can I just sit and watch them die?
My heart is sick and my mouth is dry."

Sign me up for the cause, I'm there! Well done!

[John J. Smiley]

Oh!...That's the best message so far. I can't think of anything else to say. All the comments below say everything. Thanks.

[Pratibha]

I am with you ...if i can make a tiny difference i would think i gained my life back....!!
this is neither silly nor futile because this is what is truth...the truth of mankind and the truth of love...!!

[Greg Skura]

Wow you have talent and i sincerely like your message! Thank You for sharing!

[Shelly Araujo]

This is amazing and beautiful! there is no judgement or condemnation in your words, but I feel a rally cry to help. I am the world's best a tuning out because I feel hopeless and unable to make a dent in all the suffering. You helped me to understand that even a little effort can make a difference. thank you for this!

[Wildfleour]

Excellent poem. I have been a fierce advocate for women and children most of my adult life. In fact, I signed up for training at a local women's shelter.

I am sure you are familiar with this poem, by Pastor Niemoller, but it seems so fitting in response to your words:

When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I was not a Jew.

When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out

[The DuchessPoet]

I love it!
I LOVE THIS!
YOUR PEN IS AMAZING!
your words:
"What can I do to help the endless suffering?
I give my body, heart and mind, give everything.
Will it be enough to matter?
Will it make a difference?
It does to me ..... it does to me"

{It does to me! It does to me!}

I'm a Chef and though I work for a company I also cater.on my own...
I take my profit from catering and go to the streets and feed those that are in the woods and under bridges
what joy it brings me to know that I can give families or a face a gourmet meal!
I get toothbrushes, and clothing and blankets from the contacts through my vendors...
I beg for items to help those who are down on their luck...
It matters to me my friend... It matters to me too!

I love what you've written!
Very well done my friend!
Very well spoken!