how well
do you
need to know
a soul
to
care
do you
need to be
on
a first-name basis
or
have shared
some common
moment of
pain
or
epiphany
or
is
your
faith
enough
CHARLES W. MARTIN (Reading Between the Minds) — earned his Ph.D. in Speech and Language Pathology with an emphasis in statistics. Throughout Charlie’s career, he maintained a devotion to the arts (literature/poetry, the theater, music and photography). Since his retirement in 2010, he has turned his full attention to poetry and photography. He publishes a poem and a photographic art piece each day at Read Between the Minds, Poetry, Photograph and Random Thoughts of Life. He is noted as a poet of social conscience. Charlie has been blogging since January 31, 2010. He has self-published a book of poetry entitled The Hawk Chronicles and will soon publish another book called A Bea in Your Bonnet: First Sting, featuring the renown Aunt Bea. In The Hawk Chronicles, Charlie provides a personification of his resident hawk with poems and photos taken over a two-year period. Charlie’s lastest book, When Spirits Touch, Dual Poetry, a collaboration with River Urke, is available through Amazon now.
The BeZine 
Deep Questions, Charles! Thanks, so much for your poetry!. I don’t know you had a chance to read David Brooks, “The Art of Presence” in the New York Times, Sunday. (Januray 19, 2014). I think he raises some similar points –evoked, pointed to– in your lovely poem. Sometimes suffering becomes our greatest teacher. Among other things he points to in his lovey essay, he notes:
Do be there.
Don’t Compare, ever. Every story is unique.
Do bring soup
Do not say “you’ll get over it.”
Do be a builder.
Don’t say it’s all for the best or try to make sense of what has happened. Here is the link.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/21/opinion/brooks-the-art-of-presence.html?hp&rref=opinion&_r=0
Love and appreciation,
Rob
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Oh Charles – such poignant words – especially for me at this VERY moment. I am in the middle of a very tough one.
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