Tag Archives: empathy

Semantics

23 Mar

Semantics

How many times have you tried
To get across a thought
Only to have semantics
Make it all for naught?

An idea about this or that
With heart in the right place
Only to have someone come
And your whole point debase?

Because they focused on one word
And chose to interpret
The meaning so that it would not
From their POV fit

I’m talking about simple words
Like love or hate or wealth
Ego, pride, humility
Forgiveness, joy and health

Semantics study meaning of
A solitary word
It focuses on just one piece
While whole idea’s unheard

It doesn’t make much sense to me
To zone in on one term
To argue over something whose
Definition’s firm

To lose the point one’s trying to make
To not capture the gist
To not let go and infer so
The idea isn’t missed

When semantics rear their head
This phrase I do anoint:
“What word would you like me to
Employ to make my point?

Since your definition of
The word that I have used
Is different from my own and
Has left you all confused

Tell me what word I should say
So we can move along
So I can get my point across
And you don’t get me wrong”

Usually that’s met with quite
A look of sheer confusion
Followed by a look that shows
They’ve come to one conclusion

That nitpicking on just one word
Distracts from something bigger
And my concession to oblige
Their ego pulls a trigger

That semantics are something
That don’t serve any good
An exercise in ego which
Distracts from thoughts that could

Enlighten or inspire or
Improve a state of mind
All because one can’t infer
How one word is defined

                           ~Miro

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Reciprocate

22 Feb

Reciprocate

Reciprocate, 4 syllables
A word that means “give back”
“Respond,” “return,” “reply,” “repay”
But one must have the knack

Of recognizing when one does
A favor unto you
And not just ones that cost a lot
But ones that cost a few

A couple seconds of your time
A few moments of thought
Don’t let someone’s kindness be
A gesture all of naught

Amplify the good that others
Take the time to show
When someone greets you, take a sec
To tell them back “Hello”

If someone spreads their joy and smiles
Then take your scowled frown
Reflect the warmth that they’ve shown you
And turn it upside down

If a person waves to you
It wouldn’t kill you if
You waved your hand right back at them
And not be such a stiff

And don’t just think the gesture must be
Paid back right away
Favors can be put in storage
For another day

Just don’t forget to pop the lock
And pull it out for use
A friendly gesture never given
Makes you seem obtuse

Yes, it’s nice to have people
Do thoughtful things for you
But kindness is a fountain whose 
Supply you must renew

You can’t just take and take from it
One day it will run dry
Contribute to its selfless flow
Or kiss that spring goodbye

With seven billion people on
This planet that we live
The universal way to show
We care is when we give

So show some gratitude whenever
Someone does you right
Reciprocating has not once
Been shown to cause you plight

Don’t just be about yourself
And all that you can gain
Don’t sit still and watch as others
Give while you abstain

Reflect their grace and soon you’ll see
That others will in kind
Nothing’s as encouraging
As selflessness combined

                                        ~Miro

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Nice

18 Feb

Nice

For today’s inspiration
Let me impart this advice
It’s nice to be important
But more important to be nice

It feels good when people say
You’re great at what you do
But don’t forget to give
Your colleague their review

I know you must be busy
But so is everyone
Most have time for work
But for gratitude, have none

They’re busy with their day
They’re busy with their plans
Too busy to reciprocate
Too busy for their fans

“There’s just so much to do!”
They always justify
And so all of their praise
Does not get a reply

Now I don’t pull my punches
So let me be quite frank
There are four varieties
Of people who don’t thank

The first type is the lazy
The kind who’ll take acclaim
But doesn’t have the energy
In them to give the same

The second type is selfish
They hoard and hoard and hoard
They’ll take the pleasantries of others
But can’t spare a reward

The third type is the ingrate
Who doesn’t even hear
The kudos given to them
That somehow don’t endear

The final type’s the asshole
The prick that smirks, “I know”
The pompous ass who thinks that they’re
Entitled to your dough

I hope to God I’ll never
Become one of these four
Lazy, selfish, ingrate, asshole
I won’t be, I swore

Not that there’s much praise
For the work that I create
Not that I desire it
And not that I await

But for the folks that take the time
To tell me they’ve enjoyed
I’ll always make an effort
To have my thanks deployed

So next time someone says
That you’ve done something great
It’s important to remember
To not take on the trait

Of one of the four types
And let those types entice
It’s nice to be important
But more important to be nice

                                 ~Miro

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Warriors

4 Feb
Warriors

The knight fastens his armor
And sheaths his sword
And rides into battle
Against the oncoming horde

Swords and shields clash
And the warrior battles
Till the life leaves his eyes
And the death bell rattles

The Brave smears war paint
Across his stone cheek
Against the enemy’s rifles
His chances are bleak

But he draws back his bow
Fires into the blue
Defends his home land
Till bullets rip through

The Sarge laces his boots
And slaps a clip in
“You wanna live forever?”
He barks with a grin

He bursts on the beach
Unleashes gunfire
Fights till his last breath
Amid the blood and the mire

The father kisses his babies
Then kisses his wife
He’s off to the factory
To make a new life

He works himself ragged
To pay for their food
Till his bones and his sinew
Have all come unglued

The daughter cancels her plans
To be with her mother
Just a night out with friends
There’ll be another

She caresses her forehead
With a cool and wet towel
Mother gives a warm smile
Through the cancer’s cold scowl

These are warriors
Who give of themselves
And not for rewards
To stack upon shelves

They don’t do it for riches
Or glory or laws
They do it for love
That’s the warrior’s cause

                                    ~Miro

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Sensitive vs Fragile

28 May

Sensitive vs Fragile

“So sensitive!” the phrase is used
When ‘feelings’ do get hurt
The idea sensitivity
Is bad does disconcert

Sensitive is vital
It’s a show of empathy
Awareness of what’s going on
In others, not just “me”

But ‘sensitive’ too often comes
With armor far too thin
Fragility; so quick to wound
No leather, just soft skin

To have great sensitivity
But also heavy shield
Is empathy and endurance
Only the wisest wield

To be awake, aware, attuned
But also withstand fire
To see the ugliness and wrong
To wade through the quagmire

With hands that do not tremble and
With voice that’s stern and steady
With deep breaths slow, deliberate
And clear mind, sharp and ready

Only 1 in 100
Aren’t triggered and don’t crack
Only few are sensitive
While still immune to flak

Because they have discarded the
Weak plate that posed a threat
To the integrity of their defense:
The ego’s fret

Be sensitive, awake, aware
Be mindful, but not frail
Fragility will cause these gifts
To lead to no avail

                           ~Miro

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You Are Loved

17 Nov

You Are Loved

When someone tries to make you feel
As though you do not matter
When someone criticizes what you do
Instead of flatter

When someone tells you to give up
And that you won’t succeed
When someone tries to make your faith
Within yourself recede

When someone who could help chooses
To not show empathy
When someone who could ease your pain
Instead hurts more with glee

When many band together and show
No thought or concern
When all those souls who could have helped
Do nothing except spurn

Remember you are loved by those
Who aren’t made of cold stone
Remember you are loved and that
You are never alone

You are loved by family
Who share your blood and bone
You are loved by friends who care
By picking up the phone

You are loved by survivors
Who know life isn’t fair
You are loved by warriors
Who boldly, bravely dare

You are loved by me because
I know the pain you feel
And since you are a warrior
You’ll endure it with zeal

And most importantly remember
You are loved by YOU
For all the strength and poise and grace
And courage you imbue

                                ~Miro

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The Scorpion and the Frog

16 Nov

The Scorpion and the Frog

There was a frog who swam along
The river one fine day
He came upon a scorpion
On the shore in dismay

“What seems to be the trouble?”
The frog asked with some concern
“I need to cross the river!”
The sharp-tip tailed one did yearn

“Would you be so kind and give
A ride upon your back?”
The frog thought, then thought twice, then thrice
And cautiously said back:

“I’m not so sure that would be wise
I fear that you would sting
And I would sink and drown since I’m not
Much for snorkeling

“Don’t be silly!” the scorpion said
“I’d sink along with you!
I can’t swim or breathe submerged
To do so, I’D be through!”

“Hmmm,” the frog thought to himself
“That’s true, you’d drown as well
Ok, I’m always pleased to help
Climb on board for a spell!”

“Thank you!” scorpion said with joy
And creeped upon the back
‘Bout halfway ‘cross the river
The passenger did attack

The tail snapped down and stinger pierced
The frog and he went numb
“Why?” he asked with shock and sank
Surprised at the outcome

“Because,” the scorpion replied
With apathy so cold
“I am a scorpion, it’s in my nature
In my mould”

“But you’ll drown too!” the frog gurgled
As they hit river bed
“It’s what I do, I cannot change”
And soon they both were dead

                             ~Miro

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