Home » Poems » Connie Marcum Wong » Compassion

Compassion

I have compassion, at least that’s what I try to tell my children. I can’t even find it within me to kill a mosquito anymore, and I hate those little bloodsucking mosquitoes, but the sound the zapper makes when a little unsuspecting mosquito flies into that little purple light and I hear the crackling sound and spark, Zzzzzzpt, all I can think about is the pain inflicted before it’s death, and I remember my husband thinking how helpful he was being by buying that zapper and showing me how well it worked. I smiled, and acted appreciative, but after he died I threw it away. I guess the heart grows more tender as we age and we reflect more on life and death and how every creature God made has its right to live. Yes, I do have compassion, yet my children have more than I do and that is a great thing because that means I have taught them well. 5-23-22 Divine Intervention Poetry Contest~N/A~ Sponsored by: Chantelle Anne Cooke Sent from my iPad

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem.

Please Login to post a comment

Vladislav Raven

Date: 7/21/2022 1:10:00 PM

Hi Connie, compassion is the way and it is something that should be taught from an early age. Sometimes I find it hard not to kill spiders. I stand there for half an hour just watching it, transfixed. I just want to run. I am an arachnophobic. I will always try to get insects out of the house, killing is always a last resort and I always feel bad if I had to. What if our lives were reversed. I have really enjoyed this write. This one has to be a fave. Hugs always ..... Mike. XX

Bill Baker

Date: 6/15/2022 5:14:00 PM

I really enjoyed your compassionate poem, Connie. I too have a problem with needless killing of anyone or anything. People always laugh at me when I pick up a bug in the house, gently in a tissue and carry it outside and let it go. They always say, it will just come right back unless you kill it. I smile and say, " I believe in second chances, it just made a mistake coming inside. lol Teaching children or grandchildren is better by showing instead of telling. :-) Blessings my friend, Bill

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 6/15/2022 5:19:00 PM

I agree 100% Bill. Every creature on earth has its purpose here to keep balance in our environment which is why they are reintroducing the wolf to its habitat after killing so many. Man always seems to think they know better than God. Thank you my friend. Blessings xxoo

Elaine George

Date: 6/13/2022 4:09:00 AM

Dear Connie, I believe that is what life is all about...what we are meant to learn on this journey of life...COMPASSION. What a wonderful world it would be if all humans practiced this.

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 6/15/2022 5:21:00 PM

Just because a creature is tiny doesn’t mean it doesn’t feel pain. We need all creatures to keep the balance of our environment. Thank you Elaine. Blessings xxoo

Paula Goldsmith

Date: 6/11/2022 10:03:00 AM

Your "Compassion" is a wonderful write. Love It. Have a great/blessed day writing away..................

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 6/15/2022 5:22:00 PM

Thank you very much Paula. Blessings xxoo

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 6/4/2022 3:54:00 PM

just stopping by to say hi, sweetie. I am NOW caught up and can go buy Joe and me some great food at our local Purple Turtle!

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 6/4/2022 4:16:00 PM

Have a great day. I need to work on balancing my checkbook today. I am months behind because I was just putting it off then was sick for last two months. It is great to be feeling better and reading poetry again. Hugs xxoo

Beryl Edmonds

Date: 6/3/2022 2:09:00 AM

I too believe we become more tender and compassionate as we grow older. It’s a valuable lesson you have installed in the hearts of your children Connie. A wonderful write… Belle

Phyllis Babcock

Date: 6/2/2022 4:06:00 PM

I think this world is losing it's compassion and I agree as we get older we do not like to kill anything. A lot of times I will take a tissue and throw the insect outside. I think children learn from what they see. Nicely written Connie.

Valsa George

Date: 6/2/2022 5:25:00 AM

Compassion is a great virtue.... perhaps the greatest of all ! A compassionate person cannot deliberately inflict pain on others, even on an annoying insect! My husband cannot understand when I object him killing a rat caught in a trap and dipping it in water and suffocating it. I walk away from the scene. I don't mind killing a rat.... but death should be instant..... never slow. Well composed Connie...

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 6/2/2022 8:59:00 AM

I agree completely, instant if need be. We had a huge rat as large as a cat visiting us on our deck. We called the pest control but sent them away when we found out they were going to use poison. We got some one to use a trap to capture it live and humanely release it. I can’t stand to see anything suffer. Thank you Valsa. Blessings xxoo

Judy Ball

Date: 5/30/2022 8:35:00 PM

This is great Connie. Compassion is so important and we see it less today than ever. However as far as the mosquitos go my dad was at Guadalcanal and at the Panama Canal in WWII and he got malaria 7 times and nearly died and my dog also got heart worms from a mosquito bite and did die when I was a child so I'm no fan of mosquitos. Loved the write though. God Bless, JB

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 5/30/2022 9:31:00 PM

I just use that citronella plant instead. They hate the scent. I really hate being dive bombed by a mosquito. I am so sorry you lost your dog and that your poor father had to deal with that illness. It can be deadly. I used to cover myself in deet when younger. Thank you Judy. Blessings xxoo

Michael Tor

Date: 5/29/2022 1:18:00 PM

Connie this brought tears of joy to my heart. It is a favorite. What a wonderful feeling to know how compassionate your children are and they learned from their mom. This ones a favorite. I wish I could have said the same for my child, as much as it hurts to say, its the truth. I will keep trying until my last breath... God bless you for writing this wonderful piece for it gives me hope. God bless you. xoxo

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 5/30/2022 9:35:00 PM

I cover bugs or spiders with a glass and then slip something like cardboard beneath and hold it over the glass until I can release it outside. It works well. I appreciate the Fave and your kind words very much Michael. Blessings and Hugs, Connie xxoo

Jennifer Proxenos

Date: 5/29/2022 4:10:00 AM

Hi Connie, I can understand, because the other day I killed a baby spider and said to Elias I am a murderer, what on earth are you talking about he said, and I told him, Ummmm he said ,I do sort of understand, but you are not a murderer, I know that however, if a snake waltzes in I'm not quite sure what we would do because one way or another we have to get it out of the house. Thought provoking poem dear friend, Hugs blessings, Jennifer

Andrew John

Date: 5/28/2022 3:29:00 AM

Superb thoughts, C. I enjoyed reading this. I'm no believer, but part of me retains the view that creatures have their own rights, yet I do see that, unless we are vegetarians, we do kill them to eat them. So where does that put us?

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 5/30/2022 9:39:00 PM

You have a good point. I am pretty much vegetarian. We used to raise chickens for the eggs but treated them more like pets. I kind of think that is why it is good to bless your food before eating it. Thank you Andrew. Blessings xxoo

David Walker

Date: 5/25/2022 3:14:00 AM

I love the narrative, Connie. So well expressed and nuanced. Am enjoying your poerty.

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 5/28/2022 1:22:00 AM

Thank you David. I am enjoying yours too. This site is so large it is hard to keep up. Blessings xxoo

Susan Lawrence

Date: 5/24/2022 9:23:00 PM

Connie, Your heart continues to shine in your poetry. Wonderful that your grandchildren value each life so much. It is all so fragile as we know. Especially as we get older. For them to have this consciousness now says a lot for them and you as well. Blessings, Susan :)

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 5/28/2022 1:20:00 AM

If people are kind to insects they will more likely be kind to animals and people. We need that in this chaotic world. Thank you very much Susan for your lovely comment. Blessings xxoo

Panagiota Romios

Date: 5/24/2022 4:52:00 PM

I am with you. Compassion is a reflection of our soul. My grandson and I buried a dead fly in a planter. We prayed and had a ceremony. In memorial, we called it The Mr Fly Memorial.)) Man has no respect for bugs, the unborn or humans. 14 kids died in Texas today. Schools wide open while students in other states are learning there is no such thing as a boy or a girl. No leadership in DC for it, either Pangie

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 5/28/2022 1:18:00 AM

I think it is lovely to teach children compassion from being a toddler on….we celebrate our male and females in our family with Vive la difference! Thank you Pangie. Blessings xxoo

John Watt

Date: 5/24/2022 1:33:00 PM

...plus, I nominate "Zzzzzzpt" as best new word of 2022, lol!

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 5/24/2022 1:52:00 PM

Lol thank you my friend. : )

John Watt

Date: 5/24/2022 1:32:00 PM

Connie, I appreciate what this says about the virtue of compassion; valuing every creature God has made, considering the pain we inflict and death we cause, simply to make our own life more comfortable. I appreciate what this says about you and your humane heart, and your mother's desire to pass along to your children the virtues and lessons you have learned in life. I hope you are feeling recovered from your bout with bronchitis. Lovely to see you writing again. Hugs ~ John

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 5/24/2022 1:51:00 PM

Thank you so much John. It sure knocked me out for two months, but I am enough better to enjoy poetry again. I am very thankful for that. Humans think they are the most important, but I think God sees all his creatures that way. It is good to be back. Blessings xxoo

Victor Buhagiar

Date: 5/24/2022 1:25:00 AM

Could this world learn compassion. Perhaps one day. Lovely poem. Hugs.

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 5/28/2022 1:10:00 AM

I hope so Victor. I see signs of it everyday. Blessings xxoo

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 5/23/2022 11:44:00 AM

wow, I guess some people here agree with you, but I have no problem whatsoever killing insects that annoy the heck out of me. I remember a slumber party at house of my friend from India. Her father caught me stepping on ants and yelled at me for it. There are a few insects I will never kill :ladybugs, fireflies, any of the ones useful to crops and bees. Your compassion shines, Connie.

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 5/24/2022 6:24:00 AM

My husband grew citronella plants that mosquitoes don’t like to be around and that is what we used outside. They grow like crazy and we were always giving cuttings to friends to plant. I learned to respect ants at an early age. They are a marvel. I will pass that on to my grandkids. Thanks Andrea. Blessings xxoo

Rico Leffanta

Date: 5/23/2022 11:34:00 AM

When Cook arrived, there were no mosquitoes in Hawai'i to worry about! My late wife shared your perspective, so I could write a book about my trapping tarantulas in our Tasmanian home which I was then obliged to liberate in the Park across the street! Aloha!

Rico Leffanta
Date: 5/24/2022 10:38:00 AM

One of the great "natural" lessons in life is the cockroach which attacks when it is threatened, no matter how gigantic its opponent may be! Imagine how puffed-up the gecko feels after frightening your granddaughter! Aloha!

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 5/24/2022 6:28:00 AM

I think that is wonderful Rico. Write a poem about your rescues. My granddaughter is afraid of geckos and I told her ‘you are a giant to those little fellows and they are afraid of you.’ They are not going to jump on you they are going to run away from you. Thank you my friend. Blessings xxoo

Heidi Sands

Date: 5/23/2022 9:17:00 AM

Excellent poem Connie. I love it. You have compassion and your children too. A nice positive poem to read today :)

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 5/24/2022 6:10:00 AM

Thank you Heidi. I need to get away from the depressive news so I understand what you mean. Have a wonderful day. Blessings xxoo

L Milton Hankins

Date: 5/23/2022 8:39:00 AM

And I thought I was the only one! My Deb absolutely would not hear of a zapper at our house. I'm saddened by the death of any living thing. OTOH, I can still swat a mosquito or a carpenter bee! I guess I walk a fine line. Good poem, Connie.

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 5/24/2022 6:14:00 AM

I think a person becomes more sensitive as they age. When someone yells at me I think to myself ‘you must be having a really bad day’. Sounds like you have a lovely compassionate wife. Thank you Milton. Blessings xxoo

Regina Mcintosh

Date: 5/23/2022 7:26:00 AM

Lovely write.. I've thought about those bugs too my friend. God bless you, Love, Gina

Vijay Pandit

Date: 5/23/2022 6:50:00 AM

Your compassion resonates in every line, Connie. Such divine sentiments you express towards sanctity of life. A powerful message you convey my friend.

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 5/23/2022 7:04:00 AM

I feel we cannot say we are the most important creatures created by God because every life created has its purpose. Thank you Vijay. You always leave me such lovely comments. I have not written anything for two months because I was ill but I am almost over my illness now and so happy to be back reading poetry. Blessings xxoo

Paghunda Zahid

Date: 5/23/2022 6:38:00 AM

Ah that great that you made your children better than you. Good luck in the contest.

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 5/23/2022 7:01:00 AM

Thank you Paghunda. They surprise and delight me often. Blessings xxoo