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weirdelf
weirdelf
Oct 05, 2007 ⭐ View statistics (Premium feature)

Excruciating Empathy

 

He was handed to me
by a colleague who couldn’t deal.
A deaf, dumb and blind man
looking (looking?) for a book
on advanced web design.
 
It was hard.
The only communication was from physical contact,
so uncomfortable to us western males,
and scrawled notes
(not quite blind, he used an electronic magnifier to read words one letter at a time)
I found two books for him.
He showed trust by putting one hand on my shoulder to lead him to pay.
I led him to the street and abandoned him.
He said the only two words I understood
ay oo
and gave me the thumbs up handshake.

 

I could only go to the staff room and cry.
What tribulations have I?
Self important beougeois piece of shit.
And so I sit
and write a poem about it.
How pathetic.

 

— weirdelf, Oct 05, 2007

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: Sydney, Australia, AUS

Favorite Poets: The Romantics, The Mersey Sound, The Beats and, of course, The Bard

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More from this author

Critiques

O

orgami

18 years 8 months ago

tap scratch and hello

dont go bonking your noodle now Weirdelf if you say you feel as i and have much similarities there are times when i actually take time for others and you helped the person sometimes we just need an extra hand for a few moments i run errands and speak before crowds for Mental Health Week here and people say Hello because they recognize me from the news or the paper and i thank them back if it gives someone hope if it lets people see mental health survivors and disabled can do normal stuff well then just as your freind wanted to be accessing and associating and "normal" despite the disablities way to go my freind you did well ..O..
Q

Quillsvein1

18 years 8 months ago

a

touching poem, disturbingly true to real life, where the wounded and broken of any sort repel rather than attract just by virtue of their wounded nature. this is just extremely touching by any means and i wouldn't change any of it even from a techincal standpoint: it is a direct sublimation of real experience that anyone with an ounce of decency in them has in these situations. it's commendable that you acted the way you did. great job.
weirdelf

weirdelf

18 years 8 months ago

thanks all

I actually still find it a bit baffling why I found the whole thing so emotive, not beating up on myself now, I guess the title says it all. cheers, Jess
weirdelf

weirdelf

18 years 8 months ago

I think I understand.

my disability can't be seen, I am not deaf, dumb, blind or mentally challenged. I just live on the wrong planet. My disability can't be seen. So I actually get jealous of someone who attracts so much sympathy. Don't tell me. I know how that sounds. cheers, Jess
F

follettvogue

18 years 8 months ago

poem

paula buckenham emotion , pity, and concern, a blend of all three, stark reminder that their are people whom rely on us to feel secure and feel a safty net around them. your poem evokes your feelings and theirs , i liked the reality of this poem .good reading thankyou.
ID

Ink Dragon

18 years 8 months ago

Rest assured

that I cannot detect the least jealousy in your poem. I think the crucial thing about this encounter was the lack of means of communication. That line really leapt out at me. And of course you would be reminded of your own "disabilities". It might be looked upon as a curse or a blessing that they are less obvious...Don´t we all dabble in poetry to "cure" something inside of us? Emphatic,too, Ink Dragon
wolfycat

wolfycat

18 years 8 months ago

Don't we all dabble in poetry to "cure" something inside of us?

I love this line! I sense a poem in this line. I really loved this poem too. The sorrow you felt. I sensed frustration also. Great writing. The guts of the situation, however sad or painful, can motivate and comfort...and make one cry! Great writing and 'feeling.' Wolfycat.
P

purplemoondoll

18 years 8 months ago

I agree Ink Dragon

Jess, please don't be so hard on yourself with this one. It's a brilliant, thought provoking piece of storytelling showing how communication or lack of it can dictate our attitudes in so many ways. The fact you even helped this man in the way you did speaks volumes. Many would not have even done that. I like the way you are not afraid to tackle the tricky, uncomfortable subjects with honesty and integrity. Kaz x It's impossible to smile on the outside without feeling better on the inside.
RSScheerer

RSScheerer

18 years 8 months ago

The editor in me...

...makes suggestions, but still refuses to knock you on your back. Minor spelling mistakes - Check second stanza, second line for "contact" - eighth line, same stanza "lead" should be "led" - Last stanza, "Self-important" and "bourgeois" Um, yeah. Have I mentioned some slight OCD tendencies in addition to the bipolar? Actually, it's the evil editor who comes out and tears up my own work on a regular basis. Let me know if I need to rein her in and tell her to behave herself! Ronda
weirdelf

weirdelf

18 years 8 months ago

Give her free rein!

I was appalled to see those spelling errors, normally I pride myself on my spelling, but I suspect I may have emptied a bottle to post this in. cheers, Jess
JB

Jillian Botha

18 years 8 months ago

You seemed to be very hard on yourself here Jess.....

Hi Jess This was a good, honest write for me. Well done on this!!! Just you seem very hard on yourself here Jess, it puzzeled me a little as to why, but in the same respect, i have found myself saying the same things to myself lately. Well done on and honest, yet to the point write!!! Kind regards Jill Mistakes happen, do not dwell on them, live them, mourn them and move on to better things. (PS: if that does not work eat lots and lots of chocolate)