The Allure of Pain and Suffering

The Allure of Pain and Suffering

she learned
since he had
no achievements
no ambitions
no goals
that her pain
and suffering
were another
means
of drawing attention
and an easy way
of keeping her relevant
in the minds
of the few
who should
care

instead
of admiration
and congratulations
for anything
hard-earned
she found
sympathy
for her pain and suffering
just as good
for gaining
the attention
and relevance
she so sorely
needed

so she sermonized
to the few who'd listen
how much
she loved them
so when the next round
of her pain and suffering
inevitably
came to pass
they'd be there
to offer her
the comfort
attention
and sympathy
she so sorely
needed
from the ones
she professed
to love

she sermonized
her love
to them
and especially herself
so their attention
when it came
felt
personal
unique
so much better
than the love 
and attention
from any stranger
responding
impersonally
to the pain and suffering
of just any other
who suffers too

while
over the course
of all her pains
and sufferings
they came to understand
they were nothing
but objects
to be coerced
through a love
of rhetoric
rather than effort
to offer her
the attention
love
comfort
and sympathy
she so desperately
needed

so when the next bout
of her contrived
pain and suffering
like clockwork
came to pass
she was left
more and more
alone
with just
her pain and suffering
than any of the love
caring
and attention
of those
she'd spent her life
trying to convince
ought to feel obliged
and compelled
to give it up
in spades
to the someone
who'd loved them
so damned much
in the abstract
of her weightless
words