This poem is about my neighbor and written to a prompt to write a poem as a thank you note to someone who helped me along on my journey. He does that every day with his quiet courage. “It is what it is,” he says and fights on.


Dear Ralph

Twice you have held my grief
with reverent silence
never turning away
nor offering platitudes.

You let me spiral,
scream and rage,
only nodded,
allowing the storm within
to calm
so you could offer
your quiet gift,
your empathy.

You know life is unfair,
your own on borrowed time,
your body betraying you,
your pain subdued
though never absent.

Some griefs don’t need fixing.
You know.
So do I.



Poetry by Melinda K Zarate The PoetBay support member heart!
Read 8 times
Written on 2026-03-26 at 17:04

dott Save as a bookmark (requires login)
dott Write a comment (requires login)
dott Send as email (requires login)
dott Print text


melanie sue The PoetBay support member heart!
These are the friends you want to have. A divine accident?
In my humble opinion, I think not. Your neighbor exemplifies soul beauty....And it outshines carnal beauty everytime.
Hope you have a beautiful and a blessed day
2026-03-26