Poetry submitted by Sarah on Friday, September 12, 2003 at 11:47AM :

Empathy

You say your heart is breaking
I understand what you mean
You say your life is ending
I understand that’s how it seems.
You say you do not understand.
I understand why it is that you say.
You say you do not believe he’s gone.
I understand because I’ve felt the same way.

I understand because I’ve walked
The path on which you tread
I understand because I’ve felt
The loss because he is dead.
I understand the emptiness
Because I have felt it, too!
I understand the loneliness
And my heart aches for you!

You say life will never be the same
I understand that this is true
You say you can’t keep going
I understand, but living is what you must do.
You say that others can not imagine your pain.
I understand your feelings as I have felt the same.
You say that you feel alone sitting in a crowd
I understand that feeling, I just don’t say it aloud.

I understand loss and what it does to a soul
You understand and struggle with why he chose to go.
I understand I will never have the answers that I sought
You understand but long for the comfort answers would’ve brought.
I understand and send comforting thoughts your way
You understand and we are comforting each other today.

For all of us who struggle with the loss of our loved one
In a world that doesn’t understand, remember, you are not alone
The Circle has brought us together and here people understand.

Written with love for today’s aching hearts.

Sarah Sharpless
September 12, 2003