Makeshift Sympathy
It’s okay.
You’d rather escape than
mutter comforting noises.
A “care” emoji and you’d scrolled
my mortality (and your own) into
the air above your monitor.
But I still thank you—
genuinely—
for your clumsy embrace.
12 thoughts on "Makeshift Sympathy"
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I love that this is not bitter…such character in forgiving people their clumsiness when they don’t want to or don’t know how to properly sit with someone in a difficult space. And that phrase, “clumsy embrace” is perfect.
Thanks very much, Chelsie!
This is well done! I love the clumsy embrace. So much said in so little words.
I appreciate it, Linda!
There’s a reflective grace to this poem that calls out and asks us to think more about our choices–I appreciate it
I appreciate your kind words, Shaun
Thanks for this, Jason. Social media and emojis do cheapen our expressions of all kinds of things. But I guess they’re better than silence.
Thanks very much, Kevin!
you are gracious in your acceptance
I appreciate your kind words, Gaby
Well expressed to something we all experience.
Thanks very much, Linda!