Kindness Is Unwell

Prompt by Freeta

Bumped into kindness on the road

She looked tired

You ok, I asked

A little weary,

Almost teary,

If I’m honest,

She replied

Taken aback

At her setback

I held her hand

Seemed limp and weak

Not long ago

Her grip was teak

Always so chic

She left a glow

Wherever she’d go

Quite a show

Leaving a big impression

A lesson

In what she said is essence

The old,

The cold,

Even the bold

Could warm

And find

Peace

And hope

Within her glow

Where there was war

She would row ashore

In pain,

Sickness,

Death,

She found a way

To stay awhile

And help others

Smile

But now

She seemed

Bothered,

Maybe

Even broken

Her presence now

Just a token

What happened,

I enquired

She looked up

First sipped from my cup

And began

For many years

Despite setbacks and tears

And jeers from angry men

Who sneered when grubby,

Greedy plans waylaid,

I was on the path

To win the battle,

Where kindness would reign

But before it was done

And won

An evil fightback had begun

Hate and vile

And bile

And smallness roamed

It somehow crowned

The age with mendacity

And audacity

The like we’d never seen

Her head now bowed

I slipped, she said

The world watched

As kindness tripped

I fell to

Suited monsters

This new game

Was change

The terrors of the age

Took the stage

But now today

I cannot stay

She cried

They have lied

And lied

And lied

Stay awhile

I smiled

Sit and rest

You’re still

Our hope for best

Her eyes sharpened

Too far I’ve walked

Sitting in the fading light

Darkness creeping into night

She said,

Too many have bled

And fled

Then bowed her head

She looked old

Hair streaked grey

Once gold

Smooth skin now lined

Eyes that once shined

Beacons for the lost

Were jaded

And faded

They’d seen too much

But such is her life

All this time

All this strife

Each day her power wanes

Each day new strains

Of cruelty grow

To show the hold

These dictators bestow

To all who bow before them

Kindness,

As old as time

Is dying

Before our eyes

Some many lies

She cries

And cries

And cries

And if she dies

Many will cry

But all

Will ……..