Dedicated to Ronald Hull, whose recent article, "Simple Acts of Compassion", inspired me to write this poem.
Ode to Compassion
By John Herlihy
In the vast cornucopia of virtues that we seek to imbue,
One stands out on its own with coloration of unique hue.
Compassion is its name although it goes by many others;
Sympathy, solicitude, tenderness could be its brothers.
Lifting fingers, extended hands, arms open for embrace;
Compassion speaks a language known by all the human race.
A simple gesture of the heart becomes an act of devotion;
Human kindness lays itself bare as the sum of human emotion.
Expressions of pure love lift the veil that locks us within time;
An outpouring for others leads to an awakening most sublime.
An accident happens, a disabled person needs help; a child is lost;
Others are busy, just walk away, take no notice whatever the cost.
We cannot call ourselves human, if we ignore others in pain;
If we try to ease their distress, their suffering will not be in vain.
Human compassion makes no apology for its simple innocence;
Its one irreversible fact lies in the quality of its benevolence.
Sensitivity to others represents a truth that no one can deny,
A truth that needs no apology, giving openly, not on the sly.
Compassion is a passion that each individual must alone explore;
An impulse to reach out to others with the power to restore.
Show me a person who will reach up and brush away a child’s tears;
I will feel humbled by a soul whose wisdom exceeds a hundred years.
With no compassion for humanity in a remote corner of the soul,
Our lives would be a feeble bell whose sounding no one would extol.
As in a reprieve from a death sentence from accusations made;
Compassion’s outpouring, filling, overflowing is heavily weighed,
Why then is pure compassion the most difficult act to unfold?
Where no love and empathy exists; nothing can make us bold?
It makes me feel good when I can be an inspiration for others. You have certainly described compassion in sterling terms. While compassion is most needed in dire circumstances, in my article I was referring to rather mundane activities, just a helping hand, rather than saving someone in peril or sorrow.
Compassion extends to how we treat others who are not our race, beliefs, religions, creed, wealth, physical condition, or even behavior (if we don't understand it). In our divided political climate, I see a lot of people incompassionately blaming instead of coming up with cooperative solutions that benefit everyone, including those we don't necessarily agree with. The worst thing we can do is elect uncompassionate people to be our leaders.
That's why I tend to be less compassionate with angry people accusing others of causing their problems and not coming up with any reasonable, feasible solutions to these problems. Wars result when we don't cooperate, but dictate.
Whether one believes in Jesus, the God of the Bible or not,are an atheist or whatever, if man loved his neighbor as himself as Jesus's second greatest commandment states, one cannot argue the fact there would be no wars and a whole lot more compassion.
It seems evident the heart of man to a large degree is of evil intent evidenced by his actions.
Dan
Jesus taught me compassion. Jesus had compassion for a hardened criminal who asked for forgiveness the last moments of his life. Jesus knows our hearts and loves us from the inside out. All the makeup and aftershave in the world cannot hide a person who hates and despises others. I love Ron for his compassion as well. He is a good man. When we reach out to others in love and compassion we will usually be rewarded with love and compassion. Your poem speaks from the heart and the bottom lines begs for more questions. Where is the compassion for Christians who are being persecuted because of there beliefs? Is the world too afraid to speak out? People have bumper stickers that ask for "Peaceful Coexistence" but does Islam really want to love their Christian and Jewish brothers and sisters? When will we have compassion for all people of all races and religions? If not now, when?
Mary Angela Nangini's poems celebrate the richness of life and love. From the city to cottage-country and the roads in between, Nangini explores the changing seasons of her varied region. (This book will soon be reprinted in hard cover.)
This is a book of free verse poetry that addresses the seven main tests in life and offers some sensible solutions to passing those tests with minimal discomfort.
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Compassion extends to how we treat others who are not our race, beliefs, religions, creed, wealth, physical condition, or even behavior (if we don't understand it). In our divided political climate, I see a lot of people incompassionately blaming instead of coming up with cooperative solutions that benefit everyone, including those we don't necessarily agree with. The worst thing we can do is elect uncompassionate people to be our leaders.
That's why I tend to be less compassionate with angry people accusing others of causing their problems and not coming up with any reasonable, feasible solutions to these problems. Wars result when we don't cooperate, but dictate.
Ron
It seems evident the heart of man to a large degree is of evil intent evidenced by his actions.
Dan
Love ya!
Jane