Qualia

When the towers fell

I noticed your eyes begin to swell.

I didn’t want to be mean and ask why

In fact, you could tell I was really shy.

Instead of jumping around like the other kids,

I only asked if I can scan some pages with my eyelids.

You said yes 

With your heavy chest, and

I read you some words to give your heart a rest.

I knew from them that kindness does help,

You taught me that no matter how much trauma a person goes through

Even their husband dying,

A kind word is step zero in the healing process.