the poetry knook :: the poetry of stephen m. james :: indianapolis, indiana » empathy https://www.tpkpoetry.com the poetry of stephen m. james Fri, 28 Mar 2014 01:04:39 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.8.3 Altars and bedposts https://www.tpkpoetry.com/poetry/altars-and-bedposts/ https://www.tpkpoetry.com/poetry/altars-and-bedposts/#comments Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 Self-pity, slave to redemption,
relishing in sin, resolute on change
gripping altars and bedposts–
Oh, the place of forever forgiveness:
begging for another antithesis of happiness,
seduced by clean slates and benevolent determination
yearning to scrawl dirt on this dead man’s walls
emphasizing my empathy for the lonely,
you forgive my forever forgiveness
or chalk another tally of public propitiation?

]]> https://www.tpkpoetry.com/poetry/altars-and-bedposts/feed/ 0 In Your bottle https://www.tpkpoetry.com/poetry/in-your-bottle/ https://www.tpkpoetry.com/poetry/in-your-bottle/#comments Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 You keep my tears in your bottle
Recording every drop on paper.
A deluge of hope in me
Saturating my struggle
With compassion and empathy.
It’s easier to hate this pain
Than love the causes of my cries
For mercy.
You make them bearable
So I don’t succumb
To my fears.

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