This book takes you inside the mind of one who suffers. A bullied child, a child caught up in the violence of a war-torn nation, an abused spouse, a homeless person, a person who suffers mental illness, a person with a drug or alcohol dependency, a victim of racism, an immigrant or refugee fleeing their homeland, desperate for survival, desperate to find a safe haven for the children, even a soldier who survived the battle only to live a life of nightmares. See what they see. Hear what they hear. Feel their emotions rise and fall in extreme waves of confusion and sadness. Fear what they fear.Empathy helps us better understand what others are going through, and often encourages a person to get involved in some small way to help another person in need.As a political activist, I was frustrated every time I read judgmental, even hateful comments on social media about a homeless person, an immigrant or refugee, a person struggling with an addiction or mental illness, and others in need. On social media news pages, there is no person off limits to negative criticism. While some people are accepting and welcoming to refugees and immigrants, others shout, 'Go Away!' Even a news story about a woman abused or a military veteran who suffers Post Traumatic Stress Disorder results in cold-hearted comments like, "Get over it". I thought to myself, "How can I help them understand that the person they rage against is suffering tremendously? How can I help them understand that, for many homeless people, it isn't as simple as 'Get a job!' How can I help them understand that a person with a drug addiction deserves help?" I started writing poetry to use it as a reply to the most judgmental people commenting on social media, to try to help them understand that these are human souls who deserve compassion. I started to write poetry in an effort to take them inside the mind of one who suffers. Reading 'Empathy Globally: Painful Portraits of People - In Poetry', you will momentarily live the life of a homeless person who sleeps outdoors in the cold, you will experience their sadness. You will experience the terror of a child who is surrounded by war with bombs going off and family members missing. You will go inside the mind of one who suffers mental illness, and feel their confusion. With 'Empathy Globally: Painful Portraits of People - In Poetry', you will understand the sorrow of a person with a drug addiction, and you will understand the confusion and remorse of a soldier who lives a life of nightmares after witnessing death and destruction all around him.The results of the poetry have exceeded my expectations as it has found real-world application across numerous situations. One church featured the poetry about the homeless during their fundraising event to raise funds for a homeless shelter. Another church turned the poetry into songs titled, 'Hymns for the Homeless'. Psychologists and counselors who came across the poetry I write on social media have incorporated it into their Art Therapy programs including the 'Alternatives to Violence Program' where incarcerated youth and adults are encouraged to look toward the arts and away from violence. Counselors who work with veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder incorporate the poetry I write about PTSD, and encourage a soldier to write about their own personal experiences. People who initially made angry comments about one of these topics sometimes reply to my poetry with comments like, "You know, I never really thought about it. After reading your poetry, now I do understand that they need help." Others comment to say that the poetry inspired them to volunteer at a local shelter or donate to a non-profit. I cannot ask for better results than this.Read 'Empathy Globally: Painful Portraits of People - In Poetry' to expand your focus and consciousness to a global perspective and understand that we are all one human race.Some poems contain curse words
About the Author: I write poetry to encourage empathy towards others who suffer. I write in an effort to inspire others to get involved in any way they can, to help others in need. I write about the bullied and abused, children in a war-torn nation, immigrants & refugees, victims of racism, the homeless, I write about people who suffer mental illness, people who are struggling with drug addiction, and I write about soldiers who survived the battle field only to live a life of nightmares with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Poetry I write is incorporated into the 'Alternatives to Violence Program' (AVP), a counseling service for incarcerated youth and adult prison inmates, in an effort to encourage them to look towards the arts, away from violence. Counselors use the poetry I write about PTSD as one of many tools to work with military veterans, encouraging them to incorporate art therapy as part of their healing process. A church featured the poetry I write about the homeless during fund-raising event for a homeless shelter. One church in New Zealand turned my poetry about the homeless into songs titled 'Hymns for the Homeless', to be sang at the church. A mental health care magazine included my poetry in a publication shared across Ireland for the residents of mental health care facilities. 'Twenty Two Soldiers' was read in Washington D.C. at a rally to raise awareness at the alarming rate of suicide among military veterans. Hundreds of veterans have thanked me for what I write about PTSD. They tell me the poetry accurately expresses their trauma and some even use it to show family members what they are going through. A professor in Algeria includes the poetry I write in her English class. I wrote a poem that was read out loud in Saudi Arabia during a protest of the sentencing to death of a poet. The National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces messaged me to say the poetry I write about the struggles and suffering of Syrians inspires them to continue their fight for freedom despite exhaustion, despite the odds against them. They featured the poetry I write on their social media pages including facebook, twitter and websites on Christmas Day, 2015. I started writing poetry to use it as a reply to the most hateful comments on facebook. The results have far exceeded my expectations with the poetry finding real-world application across numerous situations where people are troubled.