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.