The Sodden Sponge

My eyes hurt from seeing,
My soul aches from being,
And my heart breaks with caring,
This I know.

My ears ring from hearing,
I absorb peoples' fearing,
Anxieties I'm sharing
Blow by blow.

My arms are worn from holding,
So many I'm enfolding,
As their souls they're baring
They let go.

Into their depths I plunge,
Now like a sodden sponge,
Drip by drip myself ensnaring,
Ebb and flow.

How much more can I listen?
Allow eyes only to glisten?
For to weep I can't be daring,
I don't know.

For I would cry an ocean
Overfilled with all emotion,
Every part of me is tearing
To and fro.

I must try to continue,
With every muscle and sinew
Stretched taut and wearing
Pain-lit glow.

Try all sadness to expunge,
Sop it with my sodden sponge,
Keep out thoughts despairing,
Learn and grow.

If with every breath I take,
And if with promises I make,
I start God to be declaring,
Then I'll know

That if by me His voice is heard,
I'll simply sponge up every word,
With His help I'll be repairing
Won't overflow!