If I were sat on concrete throughout the day, curled cold in a doorway at night. If stone were my pillow, cardboard my sheet, and my blanket fell from the sky.
If I were hungry, huddled, cold, exposed; afraid of an unsheltered night. If I'd found a hideaway, been discovered, moved on; had nowhere else to go.
If I knew what it was to hunt butts on the floor, scavenge food from a bin. beg handouts from passers by. If I was hungry, thirsty, drained; tortured by bellies cry.
If my gloves were wet from shifting snow, my fingers froze to biting. If my feet were screaming, barely shod, my skin icebound in tattered clothing.
If I had to look down, was too ashamed to look up, was afraid of the look in their eyes. If I knew what it was to be guessed at, frowned upon, judged in a moment.
If the tables were turned. If I were Homeless. I'd wish for (pray for) compassion.
Poem by Cliff Letts. Read more Here
***
If my life had been torn apart by conflict. If I knew what it was to watch friends and loved ones die. Torn apart, blown apart, tortured.
If I'd been forced to leave my home, community, country. Leave a life time of people behind.
If my life, my children's lives depended on running, if there was little hope in the running but running was all we had.
If I'd had to bundle up belongings, a whisper of our all. Drag my babies through the night, throw them onto an uncertain boat... answer their cries with lies and maybes.
If I (we) survived the journey. Were thrown (traumatized) from a sea of hope into an unfamiliar (largely unwelcoming) world. Washed up, weary worn, stranded!
If my children now wandered barefoot in the rain, in the-there-that-we-had-run-to... rejected, hungry, hurting.
If I'd arrived at hope to find hopeless, and would rather we'd died in the there that we'd fled... than die in the there that we'd run to. .
If the tables were turned. If I were a Refugee. I'd wish for (pray for) compassion.
***
If I were old, lonely, unwanted, forgotten. Old; forgetful, childlike, demanding. Old; frustrated, sharp tongued, aggressive. If I were hard work...a burden.
If I'd been Marie; unloved, abused. Surrounded by hopelessness; voiceless. confused. If I'd known fear without comprehension. If my screams had gone unheard.
If I were alone; scared, unprotected. Nothing-to-no-one; wretched, neglected. If I were they that are!
If the tables were turned.
***
This is a #1000speak post. Thankfully, there are a lot of kind, compassionate people in the world. People who make a difference. People who give what they can, do what they can, bring hope to the hopeless. Not least the folks who write for 1000-Speak.
1000-Voices-For-Compassion is such a beautiful movement. There are so many contributions, from bloggers all over the World.... I encourage you to check them out if you get a chance, I'm sure you'll find some that resonate with you.
#1000SPEAK FOR COMPASSION
Speaking for GOOD on the 20th of every month
***
Thank you for allowing me to share
God bless you and all those you love
Kimmie x
Oh Kimmie. That's so inspiring. If you can't help them all - just help one. Wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I'm glad it spoke to you. x
DeleteI'm with Liv - even what we do for just one can make all the difference. Love your words.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lisa. And yes, even if we can't do much (in the grand scheme of the suffering) it can make all the difference. x
DeleteTruly beautiful. Xo
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jessie. I'm so glad this resonated with you.
DeleteThis is beautiful and heartbreaking. And it's very true - so much could be so much better if there was more compassion and it's such a simple thing.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I agree, a simple thing... a simple-BIG-thing, to those on the receiving end, and actually, to those doing the doing-giving-caring.
DeleteIt doesn't have to be much either, (though much would be good if it was within means) just something.
Thanks so much for taking the time to read/comment. I'm glad the post resonated with you.
Extremely thoughtful and a reminder to those of us in this line of work to not be blunted by what we can get used to seeing.
ReplyDeleteThank you, I'm glad the post resonated with you. How wonderful that you work to serve those in need! All who do are to be commended.
DeleteWhat a lovely creative poem. Fit very well with the movement! Great post!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteThis was so beautiful yet so gut wrenching at once. I'm one the people who run after homeless people to give them the last of my money in my purse and get scorned for it by everyone I know. I love the compasion in this community better than the one I witness in my own community. Thanks for this.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sandra. And bless you for doing the running :) x
DeleteInspiring post. Thank you. If we each do a little, we'll all do a lot.💖
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Delete"If we each do a little, we all do a lot." < Smashing quote. Absolutely... alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.
Hi Kimmie, I thought I had commented on this post, but seems I haven't. Maybe I just read and pinned it. You have created such a beautiful post with your compassionate words and beautiful images. I especially like your final image. It is the one I pinned. We, who have the tables unturned, have much to be thankful for, and much to share. Thank you for reminding me of that and of my need to be compassionate. Best wishes to you and your loved ones. xx
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Norah. For your kind response to my call for assistance. And also for your lovely comment.
DeleteI'm glad the post resonated with you...though I find it hard to believe you would need a reminder on compassion. Your own compassion always shines through!
Best wishes to you and yours, Kimmie x
A great message and connection to share!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jason.
DeleteWow. How achingly sad, but this is exactly why we need to work to spread more compassion. You made that point brilliantly here.
ReplyDeleteHomelessness is an issue everywhere, but I hope my country of Canada can do right by the refugees that have been coming here since Christmas or so, since our new prime minister took office. I hope they can find safety, security, and success. I have struggled in life some, but I can't possibly imagine what it feels like to be afraid for your life in your home and be forced to run like so many. Every time I hear about another migrant boat sinking or poor innocent souls washing up dead on a beach I shudder. There's got to be a better answer, but I don't know what that is.
I don't know what the answer is either, Kerry. I wish I did. Yes, I shudder too... it gets inside your head and is hard to accept. God only knows how it must feel for those actually living (or dying) in the nightmare.
DeleteThanks for stopping by, Kerry. I appreciate your thoughts.
All the best, Kimmie.
Thank you, Lizzi. "There but for the grace of God go I..." YES! Exactly.
ReplyDeleteJust imagining what some people have to live through/endure is enough to keep me awake at night... All those things I say I couldn't bear... other people are bearing-enduring-living those things. It's just SO awful!
This is so moving. Brought tears to my eyes...
ReplyDeleteBless you. Thank you for reading, and taking the time to comment :)
Delete