the death & rebirth of empathy

if you've fallen sick, you've earned it;
if you're broke, you've earned that, too.
there's a lesson. have you learned it?
no? oh well. i pity you.

so why don't you really try?
now, why don't you try again?
you're pathetic when you cry --
why don't you breathe & count to ten?

too bad that you're not smarter.
it's too bad that you complain.
i'm sure if you worked harder
you wouldn't feel so much pain.

[insert death, a bankruptcy,
disaster of some sort,
a loss, a painful injury ...
because life is tough & short]

i'm trying hard to remain strong.
i don't know what i'm doing wrong ...


-extemporanea written 3 October 2017