The Sunday Whirl presents twelve words for us to use in a creative writing piece.
This weeks words are:
Vast, alone, silently, novel, wake, unable, secrets, world, river, darkness, face, ache
The Passing Crowd
In this vast world, I am alone.
A world that is full of people
Who have their own lives
And are unable to see or be aware
Of the darkness others face.
In this vast world, I am alone.
Surrounded by strangers.
A river of humanity that flows past
Unperturbed by my presence,
Parting, passing, rejoining.
In this vast world, I am alone.
They move past silently
Engrossed in their own thoughts,
Their secrets, their fears—inner lives
Behind their budded ears.
In this vast world, I am alone.
There is nothing novel in this ache.
People are afraid of the thought of it
And, afraid it may bring discomfort,
They slip pass and leave me in their wake.
◊
Feeling bit sorry for myself. I'm OK, really.
ReplyDeleteSo many people promised coffee, a chat, a beer, meet for lunch, that they will drop in...now, awkward with my situation and embarrassed by their unfulfilled promises, they vanish.
ReplyDeleteSo now I wonder, what is your situation? Housebound? Retired? Living alone?
DeleteEarlier this year my wife died of brain cancer. Later the same day my mother suicided. 80% retired. Definitely not housebound. Living alone.
DeleteOh, that is HUGE. Thank you for answering. I am a widow, and I have had people close to me suicide. But not all at the same time! Poetry always helped me get through. But grief is a journey (in the case of suicide, exacerbated by shock) and I think the stages just have to be gone through as best one can. For me it has proved worth it as the memories gradually become less anguished and more treasured.
DeleteI think that kind of malaise is perhaps a city thing (whereas I live in a small town where we are all interested in each other). The poem does make me enter into the feeling, though.
ReplyDeleteYou will always have me and even though my situation is dire and I have nothing , I will share my 3 inches of space with you if ever need me.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteWhat a visually lovely and powerful poem about isolation. When people vanish it's difficult but we can reach out and grab someone/something in that outgoing tide.
ReplyDeleteWhen feeling socially neglected, one should find an unpopular person to befriend. At a school dominated by the uninteresting children of rich people this may lead to the formation of the most interesting social group on campus. In other life situations it may lead to relationships with emotional abusers and bores, but if the goal is not to be alone...
ReplyDeleteHope the awkwardness with real-world friends has faded and youall have found something to do that is fun.
PK
Yes you can feel quite isolated among many people What a powerful poignant poem It had quite an impact on me. We live all the way in NZ otherwise we would have taken you out :)
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteYour poem resonates at so many levels...as Rosemary says, this may be a city problem..but it is universal...in a bustling city of 10 million where I live, it is still surprising so many feel completely alone and invisible... hope poetry and our online community bring you some warmth and comfort.
ReplyDeletePerhaps you can share that pot of tea with me and Alice - Jae
ReplyDeleteI think he would need a couple of Digestives too.
DeleteFruitcake?
DeleteTea would be nice.
DeleteI am sorry to be one of that Passing Crowd...
ReplyDeleteThat passing crowd is more unavailable than ever with those buds.
ReplyDeleteIn this vast world, your talent flows like a river,
ReplyDeleteAlone, you silently craft what others can’t conceive.
A novel depth lies in the ache you bear,
Unable to hide the secrets you weave.
Your face reflects the darkness you transform,
And in that light, the world wakes to believe.
That's a refreshiing positive spin on the words.
Delete