These days
It’s so difficult to utter a kind word
Let alone holding a forbidden hand
More even to choose a road less traveled
The Queen of people’s heart* is long dead.
*Throughout her life, Princess Diana was very active supporting many charities related to homeless and deprived children, drug abuse, and victims of HIV/AIDS. In 1987, she shocked many people when she publicly shook the hand of an AIDS patient.Recently Prince Harry founded Heads Together which aims to end the stigma surrounding mental health. Source: link 1 & link 2
Posted for Susan’s Midweek Motif ~ Social Stigma @ Poets United
sumanar/lekha 
Yes she broke a barrier with that one gesture and that’s one reason she’s remembered so warmly. And you’re right about “these days” that we live in…
Stark and direct, even the picture startled me and then word after word I remembered and then felt the present, lack of presence. Yes. Quite a capture!
Princess Diana was such a sweet soul. I LOVE that she held the hands of an AIDS patient. I once worked at a hospital in a small village that admitted an AIDS patient who was refused admission at a larger centre. One day I saw him crying and asked if there was anything I could do. He said he was cold and wanted a blanket and the nurse wouldnt come in his room. I got him the blankets, needless to say, but was appalled at the nurse. I was happy later in the day to see the other nurse, sitting by his bedside holding his hand, they were laughing and talking. Bravo to her kind heart.
Gone, but never forgotten…! A queen with compassion and kindness….Lovely lines…Sumana.
No matter how kind and compassionate you are there will always be someone to criticize you. Humanity can be quite inhumane.
She will always be remembered…
And it seems to me… you have lived your life.. like a candle in the wind..❤️ sigh.. queen of our hearts indeed! Beautifully penned, Sumana 🙂
Lots of love,
Sanaa
It’s too easy to remember how people meet their end – you remind us that she did good work as well..and the world certainly lacks people who break down barriers
She was a truly good human being.
Diana really was a good role model in so many ways!!
Ah, what an inspiration she was! Yes, it seems to be a much harder world now.
Yes she was wonderful and thus had many enemies and detractors. Good for you for writing this tribute !
Fear, ignorance, prejudice, judgemental attitudes and narrow-mindeness underlie much of social stigma, Sumana. However, lack of compassion and love, I think, is one of the major factors.
Lovely poem and a good response to the theme.