The Hardest Thing of All

Amidst the dismal alleys,
And the melancholy streets;
Against the bitter batters
Of foul tricks and feigning treats;
With scarce a trace of shadow
On a walkway or a wall-

For being alone, unseen, unknown
Is the hardest thing of all.
 
Beneath the rays of sunlight,
And the shimmers of the moon;
Against the strain of languor,
Aimless as a stray balloon;
In want to e’er be sleeping,
And be but to dreams in thrall-

For being alone, unheard, unknown
Is the hardest thing of all.
 
The breezes conjure freedom
Through the boundless blissful sky;
And though the will be present
There much lacks the way to fly;
Consistently cliffhanging
At consistent risk to fall-

For being alone, unbacked, unknown
Is the hardest thing of all.
 
Downtrodden by the wayside,
In the potholes of despair;
Without a silver lining
Either on a wing or prayer;
And e’er a walking shadow
Waiting on tomorrow’s call-

For being alone, adrift, unknown
Is the hardest thing of all.

-EDP

Author's Note

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_4agbsIHgc&t=24s

Reviews

[H L Rose]

The first thing that came to mind was the image of a ghost, and I mean that quite literally. Like I’m imagining a cartoon ghost comic with this poem as a voice over. I really let my imagination take control when reading this one. I apologize in advance. The imagery is terrific.

The first stanza made me think of a ghost wondering alone through some empty streets and some streets filled with little children dressed as ghosts for Halloween(Got that from “foul tricks and feigning treats”).

I kind of imagined a ghost sitting on a park bench in the third stanza. Watching a ballon man handing out balloons, and one gets loose and the ghost can’t tell the balloon man that his balloons are getting away, so it just follows it as it drifts up to the moon... I’m sorry I got really imaginative.

In the fifth stanza I imagined the ghost watching a leave blow through the breeze and land on the edge of one of those sixish-inch walls that line sidewalks(I’m not sure how else to describe them), teetering like it’s going fall, and the ghost feels this connection to the leaf even though it can fly which makes the ghost feel confused... but I’m not going to go further with that cause it’s weird that I’m coming up with this.

I didn’t imagine the ghost doing anything different for the 7th stanza, but just it going back to the image of drifting along empty dark streets.

I like the 7th stanza and feel like it really drives the point home. Ghost silliness aside, there’s a lot of emotion.

The changing word in each refrain I think added a lot to the poem as well.

Sorry if I went a little overboard with the ghost thing...I’m sleep deprived...😬

I enjoyed reading this!

[emipoemi]

I really enjoyed your ghost interpretation. The thing with my poetry is that it is open to interpretation (I dare you to even adapt this poem into your ghost idea (on film)....I'd watch it). So, yeah, no need to be sorry for letting your imagination run wild with this - Iet my emotions run wild in writing this, for this is the second of my rockbottom trio. I just needed to vent with this, and this is what the result ended up being. Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it.

[H L Rose]

Oooh, I just gotta decide if it’ll be a cartoon or not. I’m glad you like the ghost interpretation!

[L.M. Hanewald]

I absolutely adored this. Look out for a couple cliches in the future, but honestly this piece was extremely moving. Great poetry makes a reader feel something real, and this achieves just that.

[emipoemi]

Thank you so much!! Quite frankly, a cliché is not so much a cliché when adopted as one's own (and driven in its own direction). But I'm so glad you enjoyed the poem.

[Wyrn Tiger]

We have something in conman. As voiceless as a shadow we sit in back corners, observing, as the world goes. hoping or praying no one notices or hoping and prying someone notices.

[emipoemi]

I'm more praying that someone notices, but thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed the poem.

[Govind singh]

Wow!!!beneath the rays of the sunlight,and the shimmer of the moon... wonderful!!

[emipoemi]

thank you! glad you enjoyed it.

[Saumya]

Indeed.You got it perfectly right, Emi!
I love how this poem flows and grows in rhyme and rhythm, and the way it is so intensely imbibed in emotions.The feelings you've described about in the poem, are the hardest to go through, but t is often that the words become scare to justify that depth.You, my friend did justice with it here, and that's what adorns this poem to a greater extent.I know this feeling exactly, its the most terrible of all..and I could therefore relate with your words well here. You poured your heart beautifully well in this poem. (((Hugs)))

Very well done, and stay hopeful if this poem was about you. Time transforms everything. This eclipse too shall pass soon :)

Good Luck & happy writing to you!

[emipoemi]

This poem was written about two years ago about a time I felt so alone in the world. I still feel alone, but it's not as bad as when I wrote this poem. Writing helped me vent out the bad feelings. Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for reading.

[Saumya]

You're welcome. :)

[Anise]

This is a poem I can understand. Delivered so beautifully almost as though the subtle rhyming enhances the loneliness for those who see it or masks it in something pretty to those who do not look deep enough to know it is there. Loneliness. I enjoyed this poem of yours very much.

[emipoemi]

So glad you did....(speaking of poems written when we're was down.....yup, this is one of mine). Thanks for reading.

[Anise]

You're welcome. I enjoyed the poem.
:)

[❀ Gabriela ..]

The intensity of this is absolutely breathtaking!! I really love your imagery and rhythm. I find it difficult sometimes to write poems that deal with strong emotion- it can be so tricky to find words that are adequate and still fit the 'confines' of rhyme, and even harder to avoid cliches and to sound original- so I'm amazed at how perfectly and how vividly (and how originally!) you've captured and conveyed this feeling of desolation. Your repeated lines tie everything together beautifully (I really like how you vary them each time!) and really hammer your point in- being lost, alone, and forgotten is one of the worst things to bear. Again, really amazing job!!

[emipoemi]

Thank you so much! To be frank, clichés are ok so long as they fit in the world of the poem, and you make them your own. In every other circumstance should they be avoided. But I'm glad you enjoyed it. I was really venting when I wrote this poem (life was really pinning me down).

[A. Kim Spradling]

Hey, my sweet friend!! You paint a beautiful sadness in your poem. I can relate to this poem. Now it is my turn to break out the red pen. Knowing you, you may agree. The 3rd stanza in verses 5 and 6, the melodic sound is ALMOST there. Might need a bit of tweaking! (I know this is not one of your newer pieces and you may want to leave it alone. Also, I am not quite sure how I missed this one. I need to read more!)

That being said, this is a STELLAR work which delivers something that we can ALL relate to. I can say that besides the The Twisted Tree and Big Brown Baskets, this is one of your best works!! BRAVA!!!!

[emipoemi]

Yeah, this was actually my second of 3 poems I colloquially title my rockbottom poems. I was feeling really down when I wrote this, and I'm so glad that it's relatable to many more than just me (it has been my intention to write for the public, but I've found that the most peculiar of poems - poems I hadn't explicitly or intentionally written to be relatable - end up being relatable). This one was intentional, though, for I knew I wasn't alone in the sentiment.
I can't quite understand what in Stanza 3 Lines 5 and 6 lack in "melodic sound" (by which I assume you mean "musicality"). Might you elaborate, for I reread those lines, and they sound right to me.....
But thanks for your thoughts and comments! So glad you enjoyed it!

[A. Kim Spradling]

I am from Texas and have a HORRIBLE Texas accent. If you were to meet me and hear me talk, I am sure I would sound like the MOST unintelligent of people. BUT, there is a brain behind the mouth that is fully functional. That may be where the difference lays in our thoughts around the poetry we write. Pronunciation is key!!

This is a GREAT piece. One of the best I have read. I love your work and I am glad that you read mine as well.

[emipoemi]

Pronunciation is definitely key (lol). Again, glad you enjoyed it.

[Zoya]

The title pulled me in! Being alone and almost non-existent for others is indeed the hardest thing of all. Although, I believe, being surrounded by people yet feeling lonely is harder than that. Loved the comparison of a vagabond to a stray balloon! Loved the entire poem in fact!

[emipoemi]

Glad you did! Thanks for reading.

[Zoya]

No worries

[KCthelastboyscout]

It is agonozing to read every word of this story and not relate.to be seen,to be heard.a lonely feeling being alone when you prefer not to be.well structured and balanced.well done

[emipoemi]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.