E-Depression

Written and (c) by Aura Starfire.

I dedicate this poem to my friend and beta reader, Matt Morwell :-)
Who put up with all my bad grammar and spelling and never got
sick of me :)

*hugs* thanks :) and now for the poem :)

How can you comfort somebody over a computer?
If they are sad, they type it.
If they are crying, you cannot hear it.
Actions speak louder than words.
But words are all you can say.

You can say you smile, or hug them.
But a smile or embrace they cannot see
So how can you help them?

How do they know you mean the words you say?
Love.
Respect.
Friendship.

Can these be conveyed by pressure placed upon square buttons,
a letter on the top?

Even a word can be said with lack of feeling.
Real life discussion can detect the change in somebody's tone
But if you talk through a computer there is no way to hear a change
And you cannot see a change.

You can wish to be there, where they are, to provide what they need.
To show them your words are real.

Distance suddenly seems much further.
A few miles turns into hundreds.
Hundreds turn into thousands.
And if you are separated by the ocean
....it feels as if you are a galaxy apart.

You cannot tell them in your own voice you care.
So you settle for words.
So please, make sure the words you say count.
Don't just say "yep"...say "I know"...
Don't just tell them you understand.

For they may tell you, "How could you?"
How can you understand their pain?
If you do understand, why not say why you do?
How you have felt the anger, grief, sadness
Tear through you like a knife through butter
But if you don't feel comfortable telling them...
Tell them you care.

For despite the fact that you are separated by great distance...
And talk with a glass screen and a keyboard...
Those friendships can be as much a part of you as those
face to face in real life.

Perhaps more.