My veins are rivers
carrying pain.
I hurt for you, my friend.
4.74 degrees of separation between us,
tap into Facebook's largest social network,
and it reveals itself like magic.
That what I know is true,
we are all connected,
you and I.
The woman in the Congo raped and beaten.
The man in Ohio that can't buy groceries for Thanksgiving dinner.
The child that was abused but there is hope
in his heart.
How do I reconcile my desire with the feeling of despair?
That I can't save all the drowning
people in this boat.
How do I live with the passion,
only to feel the anguish,
that I can't carry you on my shoulders,
lift you to a safe place,
give you the dreams that you buried long ago.
How can I reconcile the desire with the inability,
of how vast the need is.
Trying to solve a puzzle,
that pieces have vanished to,
that pieces will never fit.
There is no harmony,
there are no simple answers.
There are band aids
but there is no cure.
I want to reject the notion that things will never change,
I want to remain firm and true
to my need to resolve.
My friend, the burden must be shared by all.
To rise from lack and emptiness to a better world.
My veins are rivers,
carrying pain.
I hurt for you my friend.
http://dversepoets.com/ Meet us here where we share our thoughts and our hearts.
we are all connected...true that...and we feel each others pain...i dont want to give up either...it gets harder every story i hear, but i have hope still...
ReplyDeleteWhat a great insights about the nature of "connection." True we are only a click away from cyber friends around the world, but the reality is that so many puzzle pieces will never fit into any logical framework of connection. This is a very intelligent and moving piece.
ReplyDeleteTrue all connected in one form or another, hope is slim now a days, but I still have some with my little rhyming bum..haha
ReplyDeleteyou have a big heart ayala...it shines so bright and warm through these lines...thanks for not giving up and encouraging us to light this candle as well
ReplyDeleteMy friend, this is how I KNOW there is a God. thank you, Ayala!
ReplyDeletePEACE!
Indeed there are no band aids and there seems no cure for what is ailing this world of ours. But we can help shoulder each others' burdens...a little bit goes a long long way. Well penned, dear poet.
ReplyDeletewhew - a heavy burden that I am feeling this week (most weeks) as well. I think it is good that we are so sensitive to the pain of the world, of others but it can become overwhelming, I know.
ReplyDeleteWeird that claudia mentioned lighting a candle because two hours ago, that is what someone just advised me to do for the people I worry so much about...
There are burdens words cannot lift, songs cannot stir...human pains that coalesce in the core of the soul. We should all have such hearts, as to feel the pain that resonates in your words, to look out into the world and to *see*. Beautiful outpouring, Ayala.
ReplyDeleteYes, it hurts a lot to really look at the way things are, the way things always have been and continue to be--yet of course we do what we can for everyone we can touch, and that has to matter, as your poem matters and touches us here.
ReplyDeleteI feel you... we are connected in ways we may never understand; one's pain and sorrow is also our burden. Touching share...I love it ~
ReplyDeletePacked with such emotion, I feel your pain. It is hard to help someone who doesn't want to help themselves.
ReplyDeleteI am right there with you! Connected through the ether that is the web, but really so much deeper than that. Until I worked up the courage to venture forth with my writing, I never dreamed I would find such a vibrant community filled with like minded folks who care just as much as me and more. Perhaps we are seeing the beginning stages of how we may be able to truly unite to change the world...one powerful poem at a time. This could easily be one of those poems. Thanks so much for sharing your heart, your hurt, and the light that is you!
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful, Ayala :) And, you are so right that the burden has to be shared. It can be so overwhelming at times to see so many needs, but to help one still matters. I love your heart!
ReplyDeleteVeins are rivers is a very lovely image. K.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and thought provoking. You cure with your words as you help us remember to be thoughtful. And kind. One person to another to another. Thank you
ReplyDeleteHonest and vivid write. Lovely. xoxo
ReplyDeleteSo many need help. It's really hard to know that you, alone, can not help everyone. Poignant and heartbreaking, ayala.
ReplyDeleteA very powerful and heart-felt plea. Sometimes all we can do lies close to home and near our hearts. Great write on a universal theme.
ReplyDeleteveins as rivers carrying pain is a very strong opening-- it really brings the enormity of all the suffering onto a personal level. there is so much truth in this... don't give up hope.
ReplyDeleteSo ofetn we get rid of the thoughts that lead us to that reality... yes, madam, we need to remember we are part of it all, and so when it hurts them it is hurting us all as well...
ReplyDeleteAyala this is a beautiful reflection of your beautiful soul!!
ReplyDeleteAyala, you raise the very questions that have bothered me, and especially lately.
ReplyDeleteYou covered it just about all of it for me. Veins as rivers carrying pain is exactly it.
Lovely, sad, but too damn true. Don't lose hope.
Hugs,
Lady Nyo
Brian, keep the hope in your heart....
ReplyDeleteThank you, Steve. True...some pieces will never fit....
ReplyDeleteYes, Pat...you do :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Steve.
ReplyDeletePeace to you always!
Thank you, Audra. True a little bit goes a long way...just sad about all those we can't help.....
ReplyDeleteDear Claudia,
ReplyDeletethank you for your sweet comment...
Sheila...the burden can be overwhelming but it's our responsibility to carry it....we should light the candles in hope....
ReplyDeleteThank you, Chris. Your kind words and thoughts warm my heart.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Joy. It does all matter and if we can touch one soul at a time and lift it...we would be the lucky ones.....
ReplyDeleteThank you, Heaven.
ReplyDelete:)
Thank you, Laurie.
ReplyDelete:)
Thank you, Natasha. I feel the way you do, this community is so amazing. I feel so fortunate to have met such great people that support and encourage. It is a gift. I thank you for your thoughts and for being a part of this great community.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lori. I am touched and humbled.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Karin.
ReplyDelete:)
Thank you, Adrienne.....how sweet of you to say this.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jess.
ReplyDeletexoxo
Thank you, Talon. That's my anguish that the need is so great....
ReplyDeleteThank you, James.
ReplyDelete:)
Thank you, Joanna. I will not lose hope....
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dulce.
ReplyDelete:)
Thank you, Carrie. You are too kind, I appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteJane, thank you. I will not lose hope...I will continue believing that we can make the world a better place.
ReplyDeleteHugs to you.
Hang in there, my friend.
Veins are rivers carrying pain for others. What a beautiful sentiment. We can all help one another. That is what life is all about!
ReplyDeletethe first three lines
ReplyDeleteare eternal!
don't ever change your header- I always laugh at the doggy smile :-)
Aloha from Waikiki
Comfort Spiral
> < } } ( ° >
><}}(°>
< ° ) } } > <
A thoughtful poem that raises so many questions and worries. It's hard to have answers when you so desperately want to help or just do something that makes a difference. One voice, one person can make change, even if it's just expressing the words, that initiates the will to change. All the best, and always keep hope alive! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary. That is what life is all about. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cloudia.
ReplyDelete:)
Thank you, Di. One voice can make a difference, one act of kindness at a time can make a difference. I feel the need is so great and there are so many abandoned and hurt....It's big issues at stake and ones that have no simple solutions.
ReplyDeleteHello.
ReplyDeleteThe opening lines grab me & take hold.
A very thought-provoking poem indeed.
Thanks for sharing & visiting. I appreciate the comment.
Daydreaming
nice. i like the flow. modern poem :)
ReplyDeleteenjoy reading it. thanks for sharing :)
Yes, indeed, I feel the burden too...it's difficult and you've covered so much with your words here...thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written, I can hear your heart through your writing. I too feel this frustration in how little we can do to help others. I just try to make a difference in my little world each day and pray for those I can't help. That's all we can really do, but I think it's enough. You never know how you have affected someone.
ReplyDeleteno, there are no simple answers. sometimes the best thing we can do is come alongside a truly hurting person and simply be there for them.
ReplyDeleteSo beautifully written... this encapsulates my thoughts as well. We are all in this together.
ReplyDeleteAyala, the pain of the world does run in our veins. This makes me think of something Mother Teresa said when asked how she thought she could really make a difference and her reply was something like, it mades a difference to this person. One person at a time.
ReplyDeleteI like the repetition, with a whole world of passion and compassion in between, of My veins are rivers,
ReplyDeletecarrying pain.
Thank you, Andy.
ReplyDelete:)
so much pain we carry around, but it makes us stronger in the end.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Inspector Saahab. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Emma. :)
ReplyDeleteCM, sometimes it's frustrating that in 2011 there are still crimes against humanity, hungry people and injustice .....It breaks my heart. I know that you are out there touching your community and doing all you can. I thank you for that. I hope that you feel better soon!
ReplyDeleteLeslie...sometimes that's all we can do...
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan. I appreciate your comment.
ReplyDeleteVictoria..it's good to help one life at a time...but I always feel like it's not enough..like so much more can be done..and I feel the pain...
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ruth.
ReplyDelete:)
Kamana, the pain does make us stronger...
ReplyDeleteStay connected Ayala! I see fighting back is a positive sign. Hope gets things moving. Many believe that.
ReplyDeleteHank
I agree with you that though we can't save everyone from drowning we still have to try and hope.
ReplyDeleteThis spoke to me...such an amazing point you make here my friend. You say so much in so few words.
ReplyDeleteLove the imagery. I am often humbled by how at one corner of the world there is celebration and the other there is despair. We are all connected in more way than we realize.
ReplyDeletei adore the passion with which you write.
ReplyDeletehow can we reconcile the desire with the inability indeed?
these are important questions, and i have a feeling the ancient 'good news' the prophets talked about is that we all have the same dream of peace. and if we all want it, then...:)
Very raw and real, and if we're fully participating, we have to be honest with ourselves about just how far one person's compassion travels.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Hank.
ReplyDelete:)
Lauren...we have to try .
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ameena.
ReplyDelete:)
Rudri, we are all connected...and it's sad that some have so much and others have nothing!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ed. I often ask myself these questions and I feel helpless because the need is so great.
ReplyDeleteBelinda, one person can't save the world on their own..I know you feel passionate about this as well. I think it boils down to all of us doing whatever we can to make the world a better place. It's complicated and there are no simple answers to this.
ReplyDeleteahh... this rings very true of you, from the little i know of you...
ReplyDeleteit is an art to care, to love, to hurt and not to break, to keep believing in hope, in caring, in love...
i wonder if our cynical world can believe in love and trust again.
very nice and sincere write.
Thank you, Deb. This poem means a lot to me because I find myself conflicted on this subject on most days.
ReplyDelete