Making The Effort

Remember, when your mind begins
to wander and your attention wavers
noticing how restless your dog has
become, that this is your valued friend
and neighbour telling you of his pain
and consternation. You're reminded
of how it was as a child standing
beside your parents en route to some
destination, they quietly hearing out
a tale of misery spoken by a needy
acquaintance and your fidgety
whining, urging your parents to get
on with it, earning a reprimand and 
later a lesson on the human obligation
to turn an attentive ear and empathy
to those requiring it. And now recall
this is the very person who in your own
need rushed to support you as though
you represented a member of his very
own family, and how uplifted you felt.