“It is such a secret place…the land of tears…” Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

 

It was Nursing Home Alley

and there she was

tied to her wheelchair

wailing away

crying unceasingly

AND

no one

to hold her hand.

Parents and children

were walking by…

the adult pointed to his head

tapping incessantly

as if to say, “She is a bit off!”

to his children

dressed so properly

giggling away.

WHAT WAS IT ???

embarrassment at human emotion

embarrassment at tears

embarrassment at not knowing what to do

WHY

do we shy away from compassion?

WHY

do we find it so easy to tie a human being to a chair

but are unable to extend a hand and comfort that person?

WHY???