This ode is not to a thought
nor to an emotion, nor a person or thing—
but rather, it’s to an experience,
an epiphany, a way of seeing,
a purer and truer way.

With empathy, you are in everything,
and everything is in you.
You see and feel into the heart of all creation,
you are love and you transmit the river of love.

Without empathy there’s just you, the world
and all those things which occupy it—
leaving everything else empty and void.

Empathy is the greatest gift
with lots to gain and little to lose.
We gain gifts of humility, wisdom, truth and courage
We learn interconnectedness and how to transcend boundaries.

Through wide open windows
comes fresh empathetic care
forgetting wilting roses, only recalling love.

We’re all wired for empathy
which is why we feel hurt during human and animal crises.

Empathy changes possibilities
and is our best reason for living and loving.

Feel it
embody it
rejoice in it
transcend it.

Diana Raab, PhD, is an award-winning poet, memoirist, blogger, speaker, and author of 8 books and over 1000 articles and poems. She’s a regular blogger for Psychology Today, Thrive Global and PsychAlive. Her book, Writing for Bliss: A Seven- Step Plan for Telling Your Story and Transforming Your Life is available on Amazon. Website: dianaraab.com