'Empathy in two parts'

'Empathy in two parts'

'Empathy' timothy r gates, 1/24/2013

Empathy's gift
not requested
certainly not prayed for,
knowing the feeling
of feeling stripped,
naked before G-d.
Here i found
what was unknown,
forsaken
like Jesus
like Mary
like raped women
like violated children
like saviors.
Didn't pray,
certainly didn't want
preyed upon.
didn't seek this gift.
i get it.


'got to pull the plug' timothy r gates, 1/24/2013

i'm the big brother
got to pull the plug,
one younger brother
died.
watched the pumped oxygen
leave, thirty seconds
then he was near eggshell hued,
my parents bawled
another younger brother
quietly sobs,
his best friend gone.
chanting the Psalter,
giving room for an exit,
barely a tear trickled
down my cheek
(i bawled through laughter
driving home,
never knew this grief's burst,
before).
watched my mother, my father
weep
when their mothers, fathers
died -
i got to pull the plug,
one younger brother
white like new snow,
mother and dad
shaking out tears,
"We should've gone first."
they will die
some will hurt
some will be numb
some will remember, wishing you didn't
one younger brother
has already
walked through the door.