"Alone..."

Cherry

By Penny4athought

Sat, 23 Sep 2023
  • 1150 reads
12 comments
 

Somber as a cat, stoic, un-moving, eyes fixed, looking out the window.

Islands we are not, I remember someone saying, people need people…was that a Streisand song? I laugh at my silly musing but the levity is brief.

I am alone and it feels like an island, even with millions milling about the world, with dozens living on my street…I am alone, a tenuous existence.

Thoughts fill the head but have no outlet to be spoken, except to self.

No discourse to be had, no alternate argument to be heard…alone.

One dinner on the table, one glass filled with wine, no one to toast with, clink the glass with the air and wish…not to be alone.

The mail in the letterbox consists of bills, no birthday greetings or yuletide cards, or invitations to join…someone…anyone.

Venturing out to a restaurant…table for one…to a movie…the seat remains empty on both sides….a stroll through the park, people passing by, leaving you…alone.

The library is a sanctuary for being alone. Others are there, lost in books or magazines, happy with the shared solitude. Camaraderie in silence feels less alone...even though you are...alone.

A cat is happy alone and will not allow a walk on a leash to accompany you outside so that you are not…alone.

A dog would provide that service and perhaps, I should get a dog and no longer be…alone.

 

 

Certificate 15
Other

Comments

Submitted by Di_Hard on

As someone who has felt alone in the past, I found this rang very true.I hope this is not how you feel just now?
I liked the idea of a companionable alone-ness in a library, where to be alone is not to be the odd one out. And libraries are places where it is possible to meet minds, even though the communication is all one way. And on ABCTales we can have both, though not in person :0)
Dogs are great for making a person feel not alone when with other people, but cats are very good, too, at making a person feel not alone when at home.
I think I will be even more glad to have a cat in the house when/if my son gets somewhere to live closer to where he is studying!

 

Submitted by Tom Brown on

Sometimes it's nice to be alone, some peace and quiet andgood company that's why I like fishing so much. No problem if you forgot the bait at home.

Good luck! Tom

 

Submitted by Penny4athought on

Thank you Tom. smiley

Penny4athought

Submitted by Penny4athought on

Thank you Di- for reading and for sharing your thoughts. Of course a cat would be a lovely companion. Willow would wholeheartedly agree with that...but no, this wasn't from a personal accounting; more of an observation but there are times when everyone feels alone, so in that regard it would be a personal outlook. It was nice to know you liked the idea of Companionable Aloneness at the library, I've often felt that way there and I agree, Abctales is a similar feeling of companionship.smiley

Penny4athought

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

You describe the feeling of loneliness quite aptly in your poem. Sometimes I enjoy my own company, having my own space is important,  but it's always nice to live in house where others understand your need for being left alone, so that you can once more return to companionship when the time is right.

I used to have cats, and also had a dog in the past, but for me it's so sad when they become ill or die, and now I'm much older find I can't cope with the pain, so don't have any pets and probably never will in the future. I'm certainly not afraid to make friends if needs be. None of us knows what the future holds and how life can change in an instant, so I think it's good to be flexible.

It's sad there are so many lonely people that we never hear about, because they don't know how to communicate, or are too proud to ask for help...which is very sad, as is put so well in your piece of writing.

Well done Penny for touching on this subject. yes

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Penny4athought on

Hi Jenny; yes it is sad when someone is completely alone and not by choice. I’m sorry you aren’t able to have a pet again, but I understand the pain of losing them; they do become family when you let them in. I’m in that flux of having lost a pet and not ready yet to bring home another; the thought of their quicker life span is a stumbling block. I wish their lives were more compatible with ours but that can’t be changed so I'll have to ignore that fear, eventually, and find my new furry friend; if not this year, next year for sure.smiley

 

Penny4athought

Submitted by Tom Brown on

I am a rock, I am an island, and a rock feels no pain, and an island never cries.

Have a good week, we have an public holiday tomorrow, not that it matters anything to me.

Cheers! Tom

 

Submitted by Penny4athought on

Thanks Tom; I enjoyed the Simon and Garfunkle lyrical quote, and hope you have an enjoyable, not participating, holiday!smiley 

Penny4athought

Submitted by Starfish Girl on

'No man is an island entire of itself...' John Donne

I think you summed up the idea of loneliness beautifully in this short piece and it's possible alternatives.

Lindy

Submitted by Penny4athought on

Thank you Lindy; so kind of you to leave this lovely comment.smiley

Penny4athought

Submitted by marandina on

Loneliness is supposedly a plague of the 21st century for various reasons. You are right that you can still be alone when surrounded by many others. Of course, ultimately, we are all alone inside our heads. We come into the world alone and we leave it the same way. Thankfully, we meet many people along life's journey who make us feel part of a group and no longer by ourselves. You cover an important area with due eloquence, Penny. Enjoyed. Paul

 

Submitted by Penny4athought on

Yes Marandina, birth and death are faced very much alone; it is only in the collisions we have with others in life that we spark togetherness, see other points of view and grow in relationships. But ultimately, you are right, in our heads, in our thoughts, in our moments of enlightenment, we are alone. Thank you for reading this little mussing, and for your thoughtful and insightful comments, always appreciated.smiley

Penny4athought