I walked around the building Like I promised that I would Stood where you were standing Saw some things I never could Different angle Different shadows Different pieces came in view And I walked back feeling proud Like, damn I finally understand you Then you asked me for some help And I almost said I'm busy Oh That's inconvenient I liked empathy When empathy was thinking I could stand inside your window I could study every frame Learn exactly why you're hurting Then go home the same damn way Maybe understanding Ain't the finish line I thought Maybe seeing where you stand Means something changes when I walk I can know your whole damn story I can memorize your pain But if knowing never moves me What exactly did I gain? Maybe empathy ain't visiting Maybe sometimes it should stay Long enough to move a chair Or carry something on the way So I said, "What do you need?" Nothing cinematic Just a ride across town And somebody to help carry shit upstairs Well There goes my afternoon Funny Thought compassion would feel holy Mostly felt like holding The heavy end of somebody else's couch We got it through the doorway Barely missed the fucking wall You started laughing I started laughing For a minute That was all No grand speech No revelation Just two people out of breath And something about the room felt warmer With one less thing left on your chest Maybe understanding Ain't the finish line I thought Maybe seeing where you stand Means something changes when I walk I can know your whole damn story I can memorize your pain But if knowing never moves me What exactly did I gain? Here's the part that bothered me I always pictured kindness Like somebody with abundance Giving something to the weak But halfway up those stairs You stopped and looked at me Said, "You good? You look exhausted. We can sit here if you need." Damn There goes that theory too I came here thinking I was carrying you Meanwhile you were watching me Making sure I made it through Maybe community Ain't strong hands helping fragile ones Maybe everybody carries Till everybody's carrying something Maybe some days I'm the shoulder Some days I'm the weight Some days I bring dinner Some days There's a plate With my name Maybe that's the whole damn beauty Nobody has to stay The hero or the helpless one Forever in the frame We finally got the couch inside Crooked as hell Good enough Sat down on the floor beside it 'Cause neither one of us could move You handed me some water I said, "Thanks" You said, "For what?" I almost said, "For letting me help" Then caught myself Nah "For helping me too" Ooh I like that better Not charity Circulation Something leaves my hands Comes back from somewhere unexpected Time Food Attention Patience A ride A call A meal Maybe community is what happens When care is allowed to travel Maybe understanding Wasn't the finish line at all Maybe seeing where you stand Was just what taught me where to walk I don't need your whole damn story Before I help you with the weight Sometimes kindness starts before I understand the shape of everything And no That doesn't mean Give yourself away Doesn't mean every open hand Gets everything it came to take Boundaries still matter Rest still matters You can love somebody Without setting yourself on fire Maybe care ain't self-erasure Maybe that's another room A village isn't everybody drowning To keep everybody else afloat It's knowing when to row Knowing when to rest Knowing when to grab another hand And when to ask for one yourself That's different I used to think the strongest person Needed least from everyone Now I'm wondering if strength Might know exactly when to say "Can you come?" And trust somebody might Maybe that's why lonely people Can be surrounded every night We got so good at carrying ourselves We forgot to pass the weight So tomorrow If you call me I can't promise I'll say yes But I can promise I won't confuse Understanding with the end And someday When my own hands shake From carrying too much I hope I don't stand there explaining Why I should be strong enough I'll call You come We'll figure out the doorway And if the damn thing doesn't fit We'll turn it sideways Laugh about it Set it down Catch our breath Then pick it up together.
