Hurting

You told me a long and sorry tale today

Of a brother whose heart was hurting

And alcohol fuelled the pain

At a time when you met

Trying to bring celebration to your aging father

It was with sadness you told me

Of the shuffle in his walk and the loss of weight

And of the tears he cried

After things tore apart

I saw then some aspects of myself

And I understood how hurt sometimes can be so hidden

Vulnerability so sorely defended against

The defences lay claim to other’s lives

And everyone walks away

Hurting

It’s such a sad and sorry tale how anger can at times be

The very thing we need to bring out

But so often deal with

So unskillfully

Words spoken in anger

May contain so much pain

The thorn in the paw makes the Lion rage

But raging never removes the agent of the hurt

Is there not a better way we can find

To reach each other?