Empathy Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

Empathy

She stood to the left, almost on the corner of the cemetery
Upward, headed north or, possibly, little toward northwest
We called: "Hey old granny...hoy" she replied same "Hoy"
We, the young boys, stood and repeated, again and again
She replied patiently, repeating exact same; she took time
Far away, unseen playmate, she never exposed dimensions.
But near enough to hear us and reply, she was brown, rocky
Other mountains too were brown, all, very light to deep dark
Nearly black, mostly dry opium's color, or fearfully attractive
As kids we learned Echo as we learned of/from lizards, birds
We knew the sizes, colors and the details of their eggs, chicks
Pinkish-spotty was owls', grey spotty were the eggs of crows.
Here, in a room, surrounded by the vehicles' noise and fumes
The jackhammer is mocking, I feel very sorry for today's kids
Unaware of the desert's meaning they're sympathizing without
Knowing what empathy is......