Hour 6, "Solitary..."

2023 Poetry Marathon, Hour 6

Hour 6

9/2/2023

 

"Solitary…"

 

Seems a commonality shared within our understanding and even the acceptance of the word "solitary" for what it is.  But is it "shared" or is it just that we each have our own unique 'bars' behind our eyes?

 

A Roman Catholic Seminary,

The United States Marine Corps;

years of doing, living,

a wandering will-o'-the-wisp -

I couldn't even buy a social clue...

but strangers HAD to tell ME

their hurts and of the abuse and abrasions

to their souls… 'cause at least I WOULD listen.

 

Trust isn't given - it's earned,

and people have their own agendas,

their own ways.

 

Eating is a hell of a habit to break

and hunger is not a choice.  Some scam

but,they can still be human.

 

You come to see that most often

…people… "settle" -

for someone (anyone) to

share a path.

 

They may be good,

or bad;

but, most often afterwards -

they HAVE to change the other into their OWN vision

of what they want a partner to BE.

Then the "changing" of a person becomes the priority

- until -

the changes take away the person that was

OR the intended changee becomes so frustrated

and angry with giving up themselves.

For the most part - we DON'T choose

whom we love, just whom we like.

 

Loneliness is real

and it builds and builds

as false hopes are dashed,

and wishes fail and fall by the waysides -

fill our world, flavor our lives.

 

And we grow our own "bars" behind our eyes -

seeking to keep our feelings and emotions hidden

as our only way of dealing rather than take

another (or even any) chance at all

that COULD hurt… or crash our uni-verse.

 

Reaching means risk, risk means - it could hurt.

Loneliness wins and each of us pays a price.

 

Chris

(C) Chris Twyford 9/2/2023

Author's Note

Feel free.