I never feel lonely

I never feel lonely

Except when I look at the stars

And then I am not lonely for my own sake

But for those little fires burning so far apart

*

I never feel sad

Except when I hear the joy of a child

And then I don’t mourn for my own sake

But for the youth who’s laughter only lasts for a while

*

I never feel ruined

Except when I see someone abused

And I do not hurt for my own sake

But for the creature so roughly misused

*

I never feel hopeless

Except when people argue for war

And I don’t despair for my own sake

But for another generation who deserved so much more

*

I never feel damned

Except when I am feeling quite well

And then I don’t burn for my own sake

But for my brothers and sisters living in hell

*

And I never feel tired

Except every fucking day

Though I’m not exhausted for my own sake

But for the people still fighting for change

*

And I never feel apathy

Until I wake from my rest

To see I have atrophied by the constant mistake

Of never putting empathy to the test

*

***

Empathy rots away to apathy and the atrophy of all feeling if it is not sustained by action.

The brain resolves the cognitive dissonance between caring and inaction by putting those cares to death.