the nature

there is so much pain in the world
I don’t know how to hold it
how to bear
I must let it through me
out.

I feel it
in a dog’s eyes
in a too tight laugh
in a hurried glance
in a hug without feeling

everyone, everywhere
suffering
in outlash, backlash
whiplash
shut it out let it in
shut down let it out
solace

—12.4.24