There’s nothing new under the sun. Human emotions are all the same. Joy, happiness, pain and sorrow -they are the same. There’s a poem I wrote last year that went thus: ” If I had a super power, I would make us feel each others’ pain- then we would not hurt each other again and again.”
If you’ve walked through the corridors of hell and survived, seeing another going through the same should stir your spirit.
Even if you haven’t, there are certain instincts that MUST be there…..or we are doomed.
That instinct -without thought – to thrust your hand in theirs.
That’s what love looks like.
as cold as winter
on the edge of this abyss
warm arms enfold me
©Vivian Zems
It’s Haibun Monday at dVerse with Xenia Tren hosting.
I write about compassion and empathy without actually using the words.
May 14, 2018 at 9:20 pm
Yes, that is what love looks like! I love your closing haiku especially and the image of the hands is stunning! xxx
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May 14, 2018 at 11:16 pm
Thank you so much! 🙂
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May 14, 2018 at 9:26 pm
That’s the thing, isn’t it? As much as we want to feel another’s pain, it’s just not possible. But we can listen – I think that’s what most of us want, and of course, to give each other the feeling of another person’s body, their arms around us – as in your beautiful haiku, Viv.
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May 14, 2018 at 11:16 pm
Thank you Kim! 🙂
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May 14, 2018 at 9:32 pm
Some individuals will reach out a hand to help because they can empathise with suffering. Others don’t give a tinker’s. That’s also not new. How I wish we were different!
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May 14, 2018 at 11:15 pm
‘Tis life…sadly .
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May 15, 2018 at 8:31 am
We’re not programmed to behave in any particular way, seems like.
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May 14, 2018 at 9:42 pm
This is a beautiful piece Vivian! Well done. Such true statements to live by!
Dwight
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May 14, 2018 at 11:13 pm
Thanks, Dwight!
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May 14, 2018 at 9:52 pm
This is so beautiful – “That instinct – without thought – to thrust your hand in theirs.
That’s what love looks like.”
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May 14, 2018 at 11:13 pm
Thanks Jo! 🙂
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May 15, 2018 at 1:08 am
Yes, that is what love looks like. Why do we so often forget?
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May 15, 2018 at 9:00 pm
Sigh……
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May 15, 2018 at 2:26 am
5 stars *****
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May 15, 2018 at 9:01 pm
Thank you 😊
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May 15, 2018 at 3:10 am
I like the idea that love looks like joining hands.
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May 15, 2018 at 8:01 pm
It’s the simplest of things 😊
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May 15, 2018 at 3:24 am
This is spectacular Vivian. your vision of what love is is right on the money. Beautiful
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May 15, 2018 at 8:00 pm
Thanks Toni! 😊
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May 15, 2018 at 2:42 pm
Love the thought of those hands joining.
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May 19, 2018 at 2:42 am
SMiLes.. mY Friend While NoW iN Terms
of Science Mind and Social Empathic
Mind.. Lives With or without Emotions
Are similar
What’s never
New for some
Folks under the
Sun is Feeling
Pro-Social
Emotions
NoW
wHere An only Real Feel oF
Pleasure NoW.. Those Folks
FeeL is A Pain of Others
As tHeir only Love Is A
Serotonin uP of Winning
A Fight More as less now
LoSinG what they may never have as LoVE..:)
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