How Much Suffering Has There Been In This Universe? Poem by Shalom Freedman

How much suffering has there been in this universe?
How many billions of violent deaths?
How many beings born who died in agony?
How much Pain unseen and unheard
Human pain and less, but still pain?
How much pain has there been in this universe
How much is there now
And why so much
And what for
And does Life really have to be that?
It is all so much greater than any one person
Can begin to know much less understand-
How much suffering and pain going on now
In the time that I write this
Wondering about Mercy and Kindness and Justice
Wondering about God in my Mind?