Dave Lucas’, “About Suffering” is a beautiful, rich poem that addresses the topic of suffering. The poem begins by pointing out what true suffering is. Whether suffering strikes the unexpecting, regular people leading regular lives or people who knew misfortune was on its way, genuine suffering comes bearing great impact. Through the use of imagery and a narrator who seems to completely empathize with the character of true suffering, Lucas paints a detailed picture of how suffering feels. The poem initially explained that, “Suffering… is incubated by the sidewalk speak of bureaucrats and under soft, fluorescent suns of waiting rooms,” meaning, it can be anywhere, at anytime and affecting anyone. Referencing Icarus at the beginning, Lucas moves forward saying “Icarus is not for us, he flies and falls, that’s all.” In other words tales of suffering similar to those of Icarus do not have much leverage. Icarus did not experience the tragic, drawn out agony that so often comes with suffering. It seems as though Lucas does not consider Icarus to be a story about true suffering, because the content does not reach a depth that can properly relate to people who are devoured by suffering. It is so much deeper than just a fall. The poem continues to give vivid images of what suffering can be like. For example, suffering can be like “cuts that bleed you dry.” Coming to the conclusion that “love and work and life could be passing vapor, and all the wings he’s made he’s made of paper.” allude to the fact that all that human suffering may have been in vain and will yield no benefit.