Bulge: Continuation

Another night and day of pain,
But today’s lesson
Was on the topic of
Self-pity, in which
I seemed to be wallowing
Pretty heavily.

What is this feeling?
And which is worse:
The pain or the pity?
Upon examination
I found aversion.
I wanted to escape
This body of discomfort.

I shrank from
The pity as well, however;
I did not like it
How can I take it?
Can I alter it,
Or my attitude
In spite of it?

I changed my strategy,
Tried to be next to the pain
Instead of looking down on it.
We are together in this, I decided,
Are really one not divided.
I sat down beside it,
And tried not to fight it.
There was no delight in it
But the aversion subsided
And I felt lighter for it.

Self-pity feels heavy,
But compassion is feather-weighted.
It’s gentle and companionable,
Kindly and patient,
No stranger to unhappiness,
Unafraid of unpleasantness.