Boundaries of Compassion

by Manfred Clynes

I) A German Journey
II) Prolegomena for a Systems Answer

No word in Munich

A good and noble man, psychiatrist,

Generous of heart -

We search together, and find

There is no word in German

For compassion

I say :

Perhaps that partly explains

How Hitler could accomplish

What he did

Consternation

Sudden shame darkens his kind, knowing face

I say

We must forget:

We cannot live with that burden

All the time.

The young -

They must be free

Of this dark burden

Too heavy for any innocent

To carry