“Loneliness – A One Part Harmony”
whispers echo through my mind
whispers of those who are not here
whispers of voices never heard
the whispers of the lonely . . .
loneliness is no curse
to those who know its grip
for those who suffer from its wrath
have nothing else but solitude
to comfort them each night
whispers of their thoughts
whispers of the times
that once may have been
of times long gone
and times that may not be
in bed at night tears may fall
if loneliness deems it so
but those who shed the tears
no longer notice the calls
no longer notice the tears
all that is left
is themselves.
The air itself is substitute
for the arms of another
the warmth of myself
is all the warmth for the night
tears may fall in silence
and no deaf ears hear the cries
only one can know the pain
only one can know the solace
only one can know the paradox
loneliness may create
whispers lurk upon my ears
whispers shout within my mind
and yet the years have taught me
to be ignorant of these cries
is it years of strength that I have built
to allow my blocking of these pains?
or has a shell formed about me,
a shell within which I cower?
only I can know
and indeed the knowledge is not mine
whispers echo through my mind
whispers of those who are not here
whispers of voices never heard
the whispers of the lonely.
-- Copyright Dan Alcalde, 1998.