Compassion and Self-Care - Poetry

by Shefali Samdaria

It takes a moment, a gesture, a word,

It takes so little, yet it is unheard,

Very rare is it a manner of conversation,

Words of compassion in social situations.

We have made confidence a virtue, self esteem a pillar,

We assume that power is the concrete that builds winners,

We ignore the pain, the shadows and doubts,

We refuse to acknowledge them within and without.

We hold the fort as social workers,

As guardians of social lurkers,

Of counseling and care, we assume we are the founts,

Yet seeking and nurturing care with each other is paramount.

For even the sun needs the night to rest easy,

For all our light and love, we need to take it easy,

It is all right to ask each other if we are fine,

Because compassion is a circle, not a line.

A former magazine editor and online strategist, Shefali Samdaria is now transitioning into a career in the social work field and studying for her MSW at Columbia University.