Lonely Boy (to apathy)

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~ Lonely Boy ~

Once, there was a boy quite good,
who had no love, but knew he should.
🌿
No love had the "Lonely Boy"
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She'd found him …
kisses softly brought him joy,
unlocked the heart of the "Lonely Boy"
🌿
She taught him faithfully;

then, set him free;
no love to her, just another spree.
🌿
Tho' time slips by,

some hearts won’t mend;
his love burned true until the end.
🌿
So, he died a "Lonely Boy"
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His epitaph was written in

the stars above that shine:
🌿
She said, "I would have loved him
… IF …
I'd only had the time!"


Richard W. Jenkins
©2015

Reviews

[KTizzle]

this poem kinda reminds me of how society is now. Everybody is so fixed on themselves and being busy, they don't stop to appreciate things around them. American society has this wave of Microwave mentality that corrupts compassion because it convinces people they have no time for anything. "If only I had the time," expresses to me she saw no use in giving her time. How despicable, but I wonder how many people are guilty of being this way, but won't admit it.

Thought provoking write.

Thanks for posting!

[Richard🖌]

I am sorry to have missed your lovely, thoughtful review, Dear Livana,
Sometimes, the site does not send me a notice. ; /
Livana, your insights are inspiring … if more held your views and grasps, the world would be a far better place.

Smiles 'n hugs of warmest thanks! ⁓ Richard : )

[tracey]

are you writing another book richard.

[Richard🖌]

Just the new one I have out now, Tracey, at: https://www.amazon.com/Behind-Smile-Exceptional-Poetic-Renderings/dp/1936442485/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1517148083&sr=8-1&keywords=behind+the+smile+richard+w.+jenkins

[Richard🖌]

Or, at Amazon.co.uk
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Behind-Smile-Exceptional-Poetic-Renderings/dp/1936442450/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1515890375&sr=1-1&keywords=richard+w.+jenkins

[Richard🖌]

OOPS!
I just say I called you Tracey. She had messaged me about my new book … sorry, Honey ⁓ Dear Livana.
Hugs 'n smiles! ; )

[....................]

ah, I've been this boy but I never found her (or them) to be apathetic and blame myself for letting my heart lead while my mind was kept silent by blind love...the pain of watching 'love' disappear stung, each and every time, but I realized that those I willingly gave my heart to were free spirits, not looking to settle...some of us fall too quickly and too hard...in retrospect, I feel lucky to have known each one of them for each connection (no matter how brief) left me with something to remember...

[Richard🖌]

Aye, Matey!
Yours and my jibs are cut from the same cloth, but not so this naive bumpkin who irretrievably lost his virginity and heart to an apathetic vamp … you understand, I know you do, despite how hardened us veterans have become from our time spent in the trenches (so to speak), eh? ; )
Actually, considering some of the cuties running around this summer, I'm not so sure I am all that immune to losing mine … ha-hahh!
Thanks, Thomas, for sharing another of your splendid reviews, and a fair wind to ye! ⁓ Richard

[H. R. Dwyer]

She'd found him …
kisses softly brought him joy,
unlocked the heart of the "Lonely Boy"

She taught him faithfully;
then, set him free;
no love to her, just another spree.

- these were my favourite excerpts.

[Richard🖌]

What your favorites were is nice to know, H.R.!
Thank you for reading, and the correct word is excerpt; to extract … while "exerts" is applying force or pressure! ⁓ Richard

[H. R. Dwyer]

of course. thank you. damn iPhones.

[Richard🖌]

LOL!
Yeah, I know … all too well!!! 😜

[Roland Petrov]

I thought the narcissist I invented for my ballade was bad, but yours leaves death from broken hearts in her wake! She doesn't even warn the boy that she has no time for love. You've created a character with few words that arouses disdain, and it's your last line that makes your poem work so well. The contrast of time slipping by and the timeless stars with the flippant last line is almost comical. I question whether the subtitle "to apathy" is as appropriate as "to arrogance" would be (or something along that line).

[Richard🖌]

Well, Roland, I would say that apathy (which certainly defines her) is the opposite of empathy, which is defined as warmth, compassion, and feeling for another … would you not agree?
I suppose one could come-up with any numbers of adjectives to tag her with, but I (obviously) felt that "apathy" quite befits her, and if you felt disdain for the lady, I know the poem's volta worked as intended.
Thank you for your always thought-provoking and gratifying review, My Friend, and most definitely for reading and believing it works, albeit, nastily so … LOL! ⁓ Richard

[Leo]

I like the rhythm and definitely sensed the depth that lies beneath the mere words..

[Richard🖌]

Thank you so very much for selecting one of my poems to read and comment on, and I am truly gratified that you like and felt it! ⁓ Richard

[J]

oh goodness -- achingly tragic . . . yet your rhyming is so clever, i didn't see the end coming. a poignant reminder that we must treat fragile hearts with care. this seems to be an all-too-common theme in today's world of technology and selfish gratification.

well done, richard. :)

[Richard🖌]

I most gratefully thank you, j (meant to ask your name)!
Sad, yes, and you've clearly grasped and related to the essence of this piece … I do like your take very much, as by it, you speak to my depths with knowing.
Thank you ever-so humbly, j, for your gratifying compliment … from a poetess of your stature, it is high praise, indeed, for a such simple bard and I ⁓ Richard

[Richard🖌]

"for a such simple bard (as) I" … hope you can read typo. : )

[J]

wow richard, you are truly gracious! but YOU are the bard, dear. [yup, i read typo and didn't even notice] i mean, goodness, you TEACH poetry and i am beyond pleased you find my ramblings even worthy of comment. but this is about YOUR writing and i know how difficult it is to write rhyming poetry that easily flows without detracting from the piece itself. and you have truly mastered the art. :)