A kind heart is the hardest thing to keep;
besides the bird that beats and flutters to the left
a gaping hole appears – sickly self-centred it fills
with timely knocks and scrapes and falls and foolishness
each tear rolling more bitterly than the last
like acid rain so that even laughter
loses its tender touch
But pity is a gift not for squandering on self
and eyes have depth perception meant for looking out
to see the inwardness of other -where gaze can be caught
more easily in the tangled branches of love
from agape to amour our amicable arms reach
to hold and enfold – the bird thatching a perennial nest
soft centred sacrifice of feathered breast
made fit for heaven
Lilian’s poetics prompt implores us to ‘Have a Heart‘
PoetryPix 
Very good line: “But pity is a gift not for squandering on self”
Not squandering pity, I suspect, helps keep the heart kind.
I suspect you are right!
LOVE this — most especially the title and the second stanza! So glad you joined in on the prompt😊
Such a love-ly prompt Lilian – thank you
A delightful dance around the Heart of the matter. Loved it.
Glad you picked up the rhythm of the heart here – though it does skip beats as well
The bird makes for a lovely metaphor in this poem.
It flew in quite unannounced Kerry – and agree that it makes a full hearted presence to the poem 🙂
I do love the way you close this poem… the beginning introduce the worry, but somehow you close it in the end…
Surprised myself with this upbeat turn! Ends hopefully because there is hope for humankind with kindness!
Wisdom beautifully expressed.
and lesson to self! thank you Rosemary
Yes, nice… now don’t fly away, love.
apparently not unless poverty knocks at the door 😉
Beautifully wise!❤️
❤
Even laughter loses its tender touch
The heart is subject to lots of onslaughts that it is so vulnerable.
Hank
so true ❤