What’s empathy? I hear some people claim
preponderance but, really, what I see
is self-attendance by another name.
What’s empathy?

To understand oneself’s a quality
to cultivate and cherish. All the same,
for others it’s not sensitivity.

I don’t attend performances. That’s lame,
but fear of actor errors sets in me
discomfort overriding pleasure’s game.
What’s empathy?