Times Remembered from Selected Works from Reconnecting With Life | Poetry from Robert Neff

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Books-Poetry: Reconnecting With Life
Times Remembered from Volume 5 — Compassion and Empathy
Throughout my uncle’s life, he never had much to say. He was a loner who kept to himself. I am at the nursing home with my uncle on his death bed. Now he can only stare. These are my thoughts of what he must be thinking while he waits for death. Thoughts I imagine he wishes that he could tell my mother, his sister. You sit in silence and watch me I know you are here Your presence is a comfort to me We feel the other’s sleep Taking turns watching the other sleep I know you trouble over me I cannot last and want to remember all the times we were together Tell me your stories again so I may relive our time together Touch your hands to my body and comfort me I want to feel the love and friendship we have and have always known No one hears our laughter Because there was never any in our time We had to survive and live A bond by siblings we always knew was there Our father no longer wanted us So we were given up after our mother died Sent off to the orphanage to live, be fed and clothed Our childhood was no childhood but we made do Our youngest sister had been given a home Then our older sister and you were taken to our grandfather’s But this home for you two became your nightmare But not the nightmare faced as the one who was left behind We did not understand but I knew you were there You would visit me on the playground when you could You knew I was placed here and there Forced into a life of servitude till the State grew wise But returned when the State found how harshly I had been treated Only because the State had found me locked in the barn Where I had been kept like livestock When needed I worked the farm When finished I was returned to the barn One by one, We all left the hardships of Appalachia Without a parent to provide comfort and a smile That prison where our youth had been served We left for the new frontier We were the new pioneers of the forties Leaving the hills in search of a better life A life without servitude A life with love Now we met up again Doing what work we could find to live Always there for the other Always showing love in our own way Love learned from years of a childhood without hugs Now you sit by my death bed Like you did your husband’s I know you will not leave my side You are all I have Everyone knows how close we are Our bond is closer than twins At least you have your children to care for you So I need not worry about you I am ready to go This will be the last time you will see me go I would love to stay But I do not want to suffer anymore Nor do I want to see you suffer anymore Don’t worry, your son will keep our memory alive ~ Robert Neff � �	Volume 5 — Compassion and Empathy. When someone conveys their story, they provide a means for us to understand their perspective of their past and present struggles. We must be able to identify with their perspective. This allows us to understand their story not only from our thoughts and interpretation, but also through their eyes. These are the lives that live among us, yet we are blind to their presence. We need to be touched inside to remind us we are human. We listeners must understand and appreciate the struggles around us. Unfortunately, I have found there is a shortage of compassion and empathy in our world. Hence, one of my goals is to stir the reader’s emotions. I consider Compassion and Empathy to be Reconnecting With Life’s keystone.	Read poetry samples from Selected Works From Reconnecting With Life: Preface - Final edits from Mike Volkman are to be added vol. 1, Wrapped By My Heart vol. 1, Reconnecting With Memories From Yesteryear vol. 2, Immeasurable Distance Between Us vol. 3, Cry Your Tears For Humanity vol. 3, Muse's Prodigal Son vol. 4, Lead With Your Heart vol. 4, Temptation of the Harp vol. 5, Everyone Has a Story To Tell vol. 5, Times Remembered vol. 5, Leave The Lights On Till I Pass Poetry Stories Essay Op-Ed Book Publication Schedule Photos With a Story Two works submitted for the Juried Photography Show - 20/20 Vision, Dec 2011 Caloosahatchee Manuscripts Captive Attitude...One Bad-Arsed Pelican! Street Chalk Soaking Miniature Schnauzer Puppy Sitting In Cup Sunflower Ready To Open Architectural Institute Association's Exhibit International Surfing Day 2011 at Surf Shack, St Pete Beach, Florida