all my life
i have been sheltered

my body
sheltered from the barely chilly, 60? weather
by simply grabbing a blanket
from the pile that lays beside my bed

my soul
sheltered from pain and suffering
sheltered from the heartbreak that
seems so eternal

my eyes
sheltered from cruel sights
hunger, homelessness, and hostility
are not very familiar to me

meanwhile there are people

whose
bodies continue to be
unsheltered from the blizzards and snow storms

whose
souls continue to be
unsheltered from the pain and suffering
that ultimately comes from caring too much

whose
eyes continue to not only be
unsheltered from all the hunger, homelessness, and hostility
but must actually witness these tragedies firsthand

all my life
i have been sheltered

yet somehow, that is not enough
for me to be happy