The Lonely

Often your defenses against pain are what end up bringing you pain.

I go to the lonely and ask him

"What do you fear?"

"Come close and I'll whisper in your ear..."

I shuffle my feet and draw near

"I fear that which causes me pain."

"What kind of pain?"

"The kind that comes from humiliation."

"Why?" my brow creased in concentration

"Because when I am humiliated I hate myself"

I lean back in confusion

"Why?"

"Because on the inside, I cry"

"Why?"

"Because when I am humiliated, others dislike me

and then I have no friends and I become lonely"

"But are you not lonely now?"

Now it's his turn to crease his brow

"Yes, I must confess"

"Why?"

"Because I shut myself away for protection"

"Protection from what?" is my question

"Protection from humiliation"

Reviews

[The They]

When fear of negative emotions guides actions it leads right back to more negative emotions. This shows just how much happiness is brought about through maintaining a state of mind rather than a set of circumstances in the world (money, lack of humiliation etc.). When we fear for our own state of mind, we withdrawal from the world and our own existence and turn this fear into a self-fulfilling prophecy. Nice write!

[Anthony (aka Mr.e)]

Loneliness can be a long hard hole to climb from, but it's well worth it if you can make it out. Thanks for sharing...

~Mr.e

[darkangle]

i can vary well relate to this poem. i get bullied/humiliated every day in school only because im deaf and wear hearing aids. keep up the good work. this poem shows suspicion. my fave lines are: "Because I shut myself away for protection"
"Protection from what?" is my question
"Protection from humiliation

[Lyon Brave]

i fear pain that comes from humiliation too

[Tommy Naclerio]

Extremely accurate, Gilad. Nice dialouge.

[Silke Fisher]

Beautifully written. I like how it the end ties in neatly with the beginning. :)

[rayofdarkness]

stunning poem, i quiet enjoyed it

[Yelhsa Zenitram]

Honestly, related to this on such a profound level.. Great job, dude!

[Andrea Mouser]

i enjoyed this poem. thank you

[Alex Ryder]

An excellent circular poem that tells some uncomfortable truths. Good job.

[Warrior Bard]

Very well done. This poem embodies the nature of poetry, which is the art of saying the unsayable. In contrast to your epigram, ("Often your defenses against pain are what end up bringing you pain,") which is undeniably true, flat and uninteresting, the poem does not explain, describe or state anything. It shares fear. The reader is afraid while he is in the poem, and that is good poetry.