Or Would We

Oh, Lord, I think we need a magic knob
that's somewhere on one arm discreetly placed.
When activated, it would softly throb,
alerting us to nearby pain it traced.
At this time, we'd adjust our hidden disc,
permitting us to live another’s woe
with comprehension flowing, at no risk;
a moment, and our fellow man we’d know!
Their physical impairments we would feel;
their cancer growths; their each disease and ache.
Great grief, depression – all would be made real
and wisdom gleaned for everybody’s sake.
Or would we with our gift be soon repulsed
and fill with hate for those for whom it pulsed?

Feb. 13, 2020 
For Unseeking Seeker's A Spiritual Wisdom Download Poetry Contest

Copyright © | Year Posted 2020



Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 1/20/2023 9:20:00 AM
Congratulations on your win Andrea! You have so perceptively brought out the human debate between empathy and indifference to the pain and suffering around us in vivid poetic lines. Wonderfully done. Oh that we would all be gifted with that "knob" turned up to high! Blessings and continued prayers.
Login to Reply
Date: 2/19/2020 5:49:00 PM
This message resonates. "Seek first to understand." And well crafted. Best.
Login to Reply
Date: 2/17/2020 2:17:00 AM
Andrea, this is quite the philosophical conundrum! To "walk a mile in someone's shoes" makes a great maxim, but would we actually be willing to do it if real pain were involved. hmmm. A really thoughtful and well-crafted sonnet. GL to you! ~ John
Login to Reply
Date: 2/16/2020 4:11:00 PM
An excellent poem Andrea and well stated at the bottom of your sonnet. love phyl
Login to Reply
Date: 2/14/2020 9:08:00 PM
Wow! You are, as I suspected, very empathetic! Nicely done, sweet friend!
Login to Reply
Date: 2/14/2020 2:31:00 PM
Like a good chef...you bake your sonnets at the right temperature... Nice one
Login to Reply
Date: 2/14/2020 11:01:00 AM
Andrea, Such a sensitive wish in this lovely Sonnet. Showing empathy for your 'fellow man'. I do believe some people have such a gift. At least I do now. Happy Valentine's day Cinder Girl. -Richard
Login to Reply
Date: 2/14/2020 7:32:00 AM
A compassionate write about helping humanity..great thinking, Andrea.
Login to Reply
Date: 2/13/2020 10:57:00 PM
Wow Andrea, this stretches the imagination into our future world. We already have devices that can monitor our own bodies, wouldn't it be wonderful to know how we are making our children feel and knowing how they make us feel? This poem goes beyond my limits I think. Brilliant! I liked your explanation too. xxoo
Login to Reply
Date: 2/13/2020 8:42:00 PM
Excellent sonnet Andrea. I think your final couplet speaks for itself. My reasoning: nothing is perfect, with every good comes a bad. As evil as this world is, there would be some who figured out how to exploit your weakness for financial gain.
Login to Reply
Date: 2/13/2020 8:25:00 PM
WoW! Andrea, Such a device ( for a short period) would cause us to know what compassion is all about. This is a winner in my eyes. I wish you the best of luck in the contest. Have a wonderful evening:-) Alexis
Login to Reply
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Reflection on the Important Things

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetics
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter