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Pain Eater

to feel another’s Pain is not enough. you must combine your sympAthy wIth your empathy, until they are oNe in the samE. you must tAke it, devour IT, until it becomEs your own. now… you can count it your loss, but foR their gain

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CayCay Jennings

Date: 5/13/2025 1:56:00 AM

I am an empath and it is not an easy thing to absorb so much feel so often, but it is an extraordinary blessing, too. It took me many growing up years to realize that not everyone is like that, and that some people actually avoid all emotional pain, run as fast as denial can. So, I'm a pain eater? Can I get paid for that? I think I've heard of such in some movies about some cultures centuries ago. This poem is personal to me, to see it spelled out like this. I'm faving. CayCay

David Charles
Date: 5/13/2025 1:53:00 PM

Thank you CayCay. I'm most humbled. I will say that I titled this poem "Pain Eater," because even though I don't think it is possible to actually take and remove someone's pain, I have wished it many times. What I mean is it's not enough to just say I wish you well and take care. No, if someone you care about is hurting and suffering we must hurt and suffer with them, so that way we can better comfort them. That's not an easy thing to do because we are all very selfish from the moment we are born. We must deliberately and intentionally learn to act in this way.

Hiba Junaid

Date: 4/30/2025 2:31:00 AM

Hello David, your poem hurts my heart in the best of ways. I think these are the struggles of an empath. Sometimes, I find myself choking on the pain of others as if it was mine, not just sympathizing. It really is both a blessing and a curse to feel everything so very deeply. You have described that sentiment perfectly here. Be Blessed always, Hiba :)

David Charles
Date: 4/30/2025 10:24:00 PM

Thank you, Hiba. As always I'am most inspired and humbled by your words. Many blessings to you as well... "p