I don’t often do these, but I thought I’d try this week’s Haibun Challenge.
Apathy
So many terrible images slide across the screen. One cannot take in a steady diet of earthquakes, massacres, epidemics, famines. I am overexposed. My brain becomes numb and even that little voice that shouts that such numbness is bad—even it eventually falls silent.
I pass them on the street, holding out their hands for help, but my quick strides sweep me by. I have enough stress and pain and uncertainty in my own life without opening it up to more. One day, when my life is all together, when there is room for the pain of others to replace the troubles that now buzz around in my head.
Now I have cancer. My Facebook status announcing the earth-shattering news has a smattering of sympathetic one-liners (no likes of course) . . . and that’s it? Doesn’t anyone care?
souls like bumping boats
seek the free open waters
until storms threaten
The Green-Walled Tower 
September 14th, 2013 at 2:56 am
Apathy turns to panic. I sincerely hope this is fiction, though life unravels at a constant rate, to be sure. Great picture and haiku to highlight the prose.
September 14th, 2013 at 8:47 am
Well, I don’t have cancer although I worry that I am too apathetic to all the problems in the world.
September 14th, 2013 at 3:09 am
powerfully reflective
September 14th, 2013 at 3:24 am
Just Wow! Awesomely powerful and excellent haibun David! You use each word to best advantage creating a searingly moving piece! Penny
September 14th, 2013 at 8:45 am
Thank you, I appreciate it. Maybe I’ll try this more often ^^
September 14th, 2013 at 9:03 am
🙂
September 14th, 2013 at 5:17 am
What a great description of apathy. It kind of sinks in when you’re not even aware of it. I think that’s accurate, too, to think you can’t take on that stuff right at that moment. That made a lot of sense to me.
September 14th, 2013 at 6:49 am
Cancer is quiet and cruel in its choices and advancements…I think we all know too many with varying degrees. Hope, blessings and belief can triumph – in all kinds of blights. Be strong for yourself so you can, when the time comes that you are able you can be strong for others.
September 14th, 2013 at 7:13 am
This is very touching. If it means anything to you, I care..I honestly can tell you from experience that most people don’t know what to say. But the silence really hurts. ( 2 years and counting ) Sending you good vibes
September 14th, 2013 at 8:43 am
Thank you. Luckily, for me, it’s just a story although it expresses how I feel at times: numbed towards suffering and not wanting to feel that way.
September 16th, 2013 at 3:34 am
Wonder why we shun pain when a little help can be so rewarding.
September 16th, 2013 at 5:18 am
It is sadly far too easy to become desensitised to all the ills of the world. Fast communication imposes the burden of making a bad situation worse, just to grab the attention of the 24 hour news-watchers. A very well written commentary – well done!
September 16th, 2013 at 9:02 am
Thanks. I think the media is a double-edged sword: letting us know about tragedies in other parts of the world, but at the same time dumping so much on us that we don’t care anymore about anything.
September 22nd, 2013 at 10:15 am
Stories that we believe to be real are a gift of the writer. It would be nice if there was a balance of good news too.
September 16th, 2013 at 10:10 am
Apathy is common to many of us..and many of us ignore, thinking (and rightly) that we have enough problems..but just a small gesture could make some difference. so well-written. and the haiku towards the end explains everything perfectly
September 16th, 2013 at 10:48 pm
Tremendous piece of writing, David.
Truth, compassion and bitterness all superbly expressed.
September 17th, 2013 at 10:15 am
My heart stopped with the cancer word (I have been through that) but breathed a sigh of relief when I read it was fiction. Either way, this is wonderful.
September 17th, 2013 at 10:17 am
Thank you. Yes, this is fiction, although it’s plausible. Cancer is one of the scariest words you could hear, I think.
September 17th, 2013 at 10:24 am
Trust me…it is.
September 19th, 2013 at 2:14 pm
in just a short take, you created a masterpiece on apathy by including both FB and cancer – two powerful shots. you nailed the target.
September 21st, 2013 at 10:44 pm
Thanks. I appreciate it.
September 19th, 2013 at 7:26 pm
Such a great slice of apathy. I am so glad this is fiction, but fear the day that your last paragraph becomes all our realties.
September 21st, 2013 at 10:21 pm
It is a dark specter looming over our society; both so common and deadly, not to mention seemingly random (sometimes). I’m not sure if apathy is more common now than before, but it seems that way sometimes. Thank you for your comments.
September 22nd, 2013 at 7:32 pm
when we are down then only we realize the beauty of compassion
September 23rd, 2013 at 11:32 pm
Bang…that last paragraph…and a very real and probably true reflection to go with it – hope you can pop back to us, this was a haibun full of emotion.