Jeff Kyser Poet Quatrain

What Do You Do

What do you do when a poem’s not funny?
What do you do when it hits a raw nerve?
What do you do when it’s not warm and sunny?
What do you do when life’s thrown it a curve?

What, when the feelings are less than enraptured?
What, when the poet wails life’s been unfair? 
What, when it bleeds from a heart that is fractured?
What, when the voice is in depths of despair?

Hidden behind, there are pained people hurting;
Hidden behind, things are not all quite right.
Hidden behind, deeper issues they’re skirting;
Hidden behind, they cathartically write.

What’s the appropriate word to encourage?
Give the despondent the “nice job” spondee?
When we were young and we had a miscarriage,
Everyone left us adrift in pain's sea.

Community is just a collection of people
Connected enough to express words of care.
Intention here: never to urge, press, or wheedle.
Just to reach out, signal I know you’re there.

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L Milton Hankins March 18, 2022 at 6:54 PM Excellent, my friend. This is precisely what we all should be willing and eager to do when we feel someone is hurting, whatever the circumstance. I did so to a lady here on the Soup. As a result, she blocked me and has continually blasted me for "trying to be her counselor," which I was not...merely expressing concern. So, on here one has to be very, very careful.

Debra L Brown March 18, 2022 at 6:27 PM Jeff, such words of wisdom. A kind word goes a long way toward brightening someone's day. I enjoyed your poem. Blessings ~ Debra