if you could see the whole story

of someone else’s life,

see the hurts and the pain

the aching needs unmet

the things that were shattered

and crushed

 

if you could see the rejection

how they were abandoned

and the things they were

required to endure

 

then you would never

look with distaste

or shake your head

at these one or two things

that trigger your judgment

fierce

 

and you would view them

with naught but the softest

most tender

the most understanding

of lovingkindness

instead

 

heather pound 2024

Photo by Melissa Askew on Unsplash