A Rebellion of Care

A Rebellion of Care

IF EMPATHY IS A SIN LET ME BE THE DEVIL'S FAVORITE SOLDIER

A new long form poem about empathy and absurdity

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David Gate
Aug 30, 2025
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This week I am offering you a longer form poem that comes from the truly absurd (but sadly quite believable) idea that is stemming from conservative religious factions that empathy is a sin (there are two popular books about it "Toxic Empathy" & "The Sin of Empathy". Obviously, I have other ideas...

IF EMPATHY IS A SIN…

If empathy is a sin then let me be the devil’s favorite soldier,

a grinning imp with mutual aid funds

a horned fool who asks for correct pronouns

who refuses to turn away when the eyes of strangers

open like unguarded wounds.

If empathy is sin then let me be drunk on it

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