Sympathy

When I am in agonising pain —
Physical or emotional —
Do I want around me
Someone I deeply care about
Someone who deeply cares for me

When that someone
Has no realistic, no practical way —
Other than putting me out —
Of relieving my pain

What happens to my pain
With someone like that around

My pain does not change or lessen —
Be it a toothache
A stab wound
Or burned skin

My expression of that pain
Does, however, change —
Or even lessen

I would, without even trying
— and even through trying —
Muffle my screams
Silence my cries —

So that I do not distress
The one I care about
So that the one I care about
Does not feel my pain

And that someone
Who cared about me —

Would he wish me to do so
Would he wish me not to cry
Not to scream
Not to howl —

In the fullest possible way
Without filtering
Without being watched

He wouldn’t

So he’d leave me alone —
To die
In my own way
Without having to care
About his feelings
In my last moments

Isn’t that
Sympathy