A Friend To None

I spied an old man sip his beer,
his eyes were glazed, full cloudy day.
Oblivious to all around
he didn't hear the raucous sound
of other drinkers loud at play.

I watched him as he raised his glass.
I didn't miss a tear that fell
that trickled down his weathered skin.
I felt another's suffering,
his sadness wrapped me in its spell.

Where was he in his troubled mind?
For sure he wasn't here with us
His shirt was stained, his hair unkempt,
I pondered where his thinking went.
He drank his pain with little fuss.

My thoughts returned to you and I.
The Reaper is a friend to none,
for when you've lost your trusted mate,
you lose your compass and your fate
lies in the stars, your present gone.

Reviews

[Betty Hermelee]

It’s alway sad to lose a mate, and that’s what brought to mind when you saw that man alone shuddering a drinking his own pain….it reminds all of us that someday our fate will come and maybe there is a better place for us than to be “ friend to none”….. and that place will give us all peace of mind….seeing a stranger suffer does bring back memories.
Really good write dear Chis.
Best
B.

[Chris Shaw]

Happy Thursday Betty and thank you so much for your understanding review. Always good to have a visit from you. Appreciated you are.

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

You're very welcome Chris!

[Lisasview]

Another great read fairly early this Sunday morning..
Your impression of that man is most likely spot on.
The movement and flow of your poem really worked into a interesting story..
Lisa, finally funny enough to do laundry!! (we have solar panels)

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Lisa for your thoughts on this older poem. If you have solar panels, I applaud you. Doing your bit for the planet. Have a nice day.

Chris

[Lisasview]

Oh yes, and a wonderful compost..and the beginnings of a veggie garden..
We do not eat meat or chicken..Only veggies, fruits, fish, chocolate and of course red wine..
You are quite welcome..

[Chris Shaw]

Pleased you haven't missed out chocolate or red wine. Staples of a good diet they sre:)

[John the Baptist]

It has been noted that when one partner in a long marriage passes on, the other one often follows suit in a relatively short time. It is as if they tell themselves on some level that there is now no reason to hang around any longer. If they are also retired from a long career, this may serve to reinforce that conclusion.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks John for your visit. Sadly I think you are right. That is exactly what I imagined about this old man.

Chris

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Now this is a philisopuical word art to ponder. Awesome work.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Dale for that encouraging review. All the best.

Chris

[Patricia]

wow, I love this, so sad and the ending is beautiful sadness. such great writing, flow, and topic. So touching.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you my friend. Thank you.

Chris

[KATHY SUE SILLS]

Wow! Chris, this left me watching a person going through a bad time! I could feel his pain. A lot of people face difficult times, and it shows in their face! Each line led your readers down a lonely painful path of someone's pain! Well done!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Kathy. I appreciate your review.

Chris

[KATHY SUE SILLS]

My pleasure!

[Sami Khalil]

He has surely triggered many things in your gentle soul. You felt his pain and his hard life. Life can be hard, cruel and unfair, but in a way, we can change some things or be helpless. Maybe there is a reason or many reasons for them to exist for God to test who is helping, who is not and so forth? Who knows???
A sad and powerful story dear Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear Sami. You are appreciated.

Chris

[Sami Khalil]

You too. You are welcome Chris.

[lightsong]

and how You end it! I wouldn't expect it, but that's what a great poetess like You do, wrap it all in one rich message. to have a faithful friend who we can trust and lean on is a treasure. even when we have heartbreaks of breakups we can't go to our partners, we go to our close friends. a story and a lesson of line written in your poetical wise voice.

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks always lightsong for your encouragement. It means alot. Have a lovely day.

Chris

[KAREN]

The pain you captured in this piece is real. It happens every day. We can observe and see it on people's faces, but we never really know what they are going through! Well done!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Karen for your encouragement. You are appreciated.

Chris

[KAREN]

You're welcome!

[Einstein Noodle]

the scene and character building in this, i think, are quite strong ... i am sitting a few stools away in the place of your speaker, drawn irresistibly to "see" him. V1 L2 is especially cool for me .. love that "cloudy day" and eye connection!! i really see him! the theme ... strikes home to all who have suffered loss of a mate .. it is so true ... one is lost and helpless, vulnerable and terribly in pain. his story could be one of years, having never recovered .. his dress kind of makes me think so .. but ... being struck so hard at a later stage of the game can cause one to neglect themselves instantly .. poignant scene .. great character .. super emotive ... you 5 line style and variable rhyming always catches me just a bit off balance .. but it also makes me pay attention .. and savor .. ;)
E.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Mr E for your kind comments. You see the likes of this old man everywhere. I see them in shops, on buses, in the local. What strikes me is their suffering. I can see it in their eyes. I can not fail to wonder what their lives were like, till the down turn arrived. It can happen to us all . Maybe women are better at coping with loss. I am unsure of that though. Thank you muchly for calling on this older poem out for an airing. I hope you find contentment in your days after your loss of Norma. Early days yet. So pleased you paid me a visit this cold Saturday morning.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

yes ... for those with tender hearts .. the pain on an old man's face can easily be found .. one just has to look .. I am doing well .. Norma's memories are joyful at this point .. most of the time .. certainly I will always miss her presence and my "helpmate" ... her ideas and reflections are inside and outside the cabin .. her tulips are in full bloom right now and fill me with the joy of them being "hers" ... thank you for asking .. wonderful poem!!! oh.... women do handle emotional pain much differently and men do not get a lot of credit for being very deeply in love .. when i think of such things i think of Percy Sledge's song "When a Man Loves a Woman" ;) ............. peace and joy sister .. i would love it if you lived next door .. we could chat across the picket fence .. or hedge :)))))))))))))))))))))

[Chris Shaw]

So pleased you are finding some joy. Yes I can imagine the delight of Norma's tulips. A splash of spring for you. She will always be with you. You may be right about men not getting credit for their loving. Men tend to hold on to their feelings, don't readily express them. Then it can be hard to guage. I would love to share a cuppa over the fence if I lived next door :) You take good care of yourself now.

Chris

[AYVID N]

Your keen and observant eye caught every pitiful detail and your empathy-filled heart went out to him. And with your beautiful pen, you sketched him on this page for us. Indeed, we all know that old man, sitting forlorn with his beer and his unnoticed tears. We will all be going through grief and loss in the unforeseen future and your words so gently remind us of that sobering fact of life, dear Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

DIVYA, I thank you for your thoughtful and kind review. So very much appreciated.

Chris

[AYVID N]

You are most welcome Chris.