Abgebrüht Poem by RIC BASTASA

the harsh times
sometimes makes us hard
so hard that we become calluses
towards the sufferings
of our others
never mind our own
we have been too insensitive, indifferent,
unsympathetic to ourselves
we get used to everyting
that hurt us, they become everyday encounters
like day and night, like washing our faces
like morning and evening brushings of our teeth
callous we become this attitude
indurated parts of ourselves
thicker skins exposed to so much friction
not unbearable
not invisible but unbreakable, impenetrable,
and always challenging

you and i.