Empath’s Tears

my job

is to take 

other people’s pain

and hold it

against my breast

like a sweet squalling child

held in my arms

empathy 

is killing myself

on the sword

of distant injuries 

over and over

it is feeling the spear

go in 

again 

of letting the blood

of wounds

not done to me

gush over my 

pressing hands

while I’m frozen 

in horror

that is why

I cannot watch scenes

of torture

they come too close

to what I 

know that you

suffer