Valued More Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Continuing to assess.
An absence of understanding.
With hope to detect it.
Heard expressed.

That to do to continue awaiting,
Can get more depressing.
Than the effectiveness that affects,
A life threatening disease.
And the reality of it to face.

Anyone unknown to an empathy shown.
Or has an emotion to feel it flow.
Is incapable to express,
What is not theirs to feel with depth.
Or even to fake it.

Some born into wealth and possessions,
Kept to maintain.
Is seldom taught to value,
Or feel anything else...
That has as much worth as a dollar!

"Believe it or not,
I still have that 'one hundred dollar bill'.
Given to me as a child.
Isn't that incredible?
And I bet no one hear can guess,
Where I have it hanging in one of my homes."

-Sir?
We are here to discuss the...epidemic.
You know,
The life threatening disease.
Spreading to infect lives everywhere.
And thousands have already died.-

"Okay, okay okay.
I'll give you a clue.
And some of you should know this.
It's hanging over the mantle,
Where we sat...
Talking about investments! "

-And...
Sir?
The epidemic.
We must do something immediately.-

"Well...
I've noticed,
Everytime I want to talk about important stuff,
The topic changes.
And yet...
Who is it that comes to me?
Seeking my opinion and desired advice!
Who?
And people claim me to be narcissistic?
A huge ego?
People have no idea,
The tremendous stress I am under to suffer.
And...
May I add,
ALONE! "