Sta.sh
Ballad of Roles
by ~TerraForceI wish that you could see
how very much that I love you.
No, it's not like -that-.
We tend to force love to be romantic--
almost like raping a word, in a way,
and it's just as improper, though not as illegal.
Y'see, you probably won't believe me when I say this,
but in a weird kind of way, I've almost been you.
I feel like I know you so very well, somehow,
even though we've never actually met.
Never actually shaken hands, shared a hug,
or even heard each other's voices through the same air.
And I see and hear what you're going through.
Some of it I've been through myself,
and some of it I've sort of been through,
because, again, in that weird way,
I've somehow kinda been you--
just this time,
it's the you that's going through this.
Maybe I can't tell you about it because I know you'd bristle.
Or it doesn't seem macho or polite enough.
Or simply because I never know when or how I should bring it up.
But I want you to know this, so I'm putting it here:
I understand, at least in part.
I feel what you are experiencing, if only some of it.
I wish I were closer, so that I could show it to you,
but for now,
most of what I can say
is that I love you.
I love your strength as you continue onward.
I love your sadness, because you don't deny it.
I love your joy, because it gives me sunlight too.
I accept and know and understand and love -you-...
Though I understand the mask you wear--
I'm never without one myself--
I love you for who and what you are,
and I hope that even if you never show it, even to me,
you'll know that, too.
And even more so,
I hope that that knowledge,
even if nothing else,
will give you strength to continue carrying on,
as you so bravely have so far.
Anyway, this poem is quite a frank expression, and I know from my experience with you what you mean and how true this rings for a lot of folks. Indeed, it must be adressed to many. Your ability for empathy is quite a gift, and I'm glad you use it in the way you have chosen to during all this time. Now, as for the poem itself...
How very true about love that people always have to label and stereotype the word and its meaning (which is as broad and wide as we both know), and how very sad that in doing so, they limit this beautiful and powerful force which fixes so many woes and pains in our sentient lives.
Putting ourselves in somebody else's shoes is such an experience because of what it implies for us shapeshifters, and you know as well as I do of all the gains and the price we pay for the knowledge and experiences we thus obtain. Yet it is always worth it. And then, of course, the dillema. How to let others know? How will they react? Yet, we always wish them to go on, and do our best to help them in their course.
You wonder, are the words enough? How could I do more? Does it all really matter in the end?
And, well, for me, I always pray that it does.
Great poem, bro.
--
The eternal weirdo who is always learning... learning how to be more weird.
I'm sure you can relate to the speaker in the poem more than most people will, though of course it wasn't necessarily intended to do that...
Telling people how you really feel is an act of vulnerability, which is itself a state not valued by our culture, and particularly not valued in men. At the same time, we tend to place low values on men having any emotions at all (aside from occasional justified anger and polite, feigning-happy socializing), which means that most of the people who I intend to get something out of this will never really say that they get the message. So I included some of those lines to let them know that it's okay, if they even read them, because I understand that, too.
Thanks for your commentary--I can tell you've put some good thought into it.
--
Dare to dig deeper into life.
Consider these Meditations.
just kidding and you know it.
It is quite a bold thing, to say you understand everyone at some level. (or at least those who read this)
As some of us have experienced, (on both sides). A somewhat common reaction for one, (especially in times of turmoil and pain) is to refuse such a claim, which may be damaging in a sense for it could lead to an unnecessary level of isolation and separation from one to another. For in many ways a lot of us do understand far more than we are conditioned to believe on a conscious and or subconscious level.
Love is of course very powerful. It is one entity, force and or common chemical reaction in the brain and body (if you'd like to see it that way), yet it comes in many forms... some accepted while others, not so much.
Some feel love is a feeling, combination of words, direct action, or all of the above. Though actions always speak louder than words, many times words are all we have (especially online). In a sense, we all take action by using words. And though a level of omnipresence to take constant and effective action to fully express one's love on a very wide scale would be nice, we with our humanly limitations can at least do much to spread understanding and love in various ways.
It's good to see you posting again Miles.
Nice comment, by the way. It was way longer than most I get--not to mention more detailed.
--
Dare to dig deeper into life.
Consider these Meditations.