Living In Solitude Poem by Raj Arumugam

I live now alone
unrecognized, slow in my walks
Anonymous, unknown, unconnected -
in part what time showed me,
part in choice

Strangers nod and utter kind words
and we exchange smiles
as we move down the paths
The hare at the edge
eyes me cautiously
before making a dash to the bush;
a stray dog follows me for a while

The world is shut off
and it is quiet in my shed and room -
except for the murmur
of the thoughts of the ancients
in the books and volumes on my shelves and table

This is pleasant; solitary and satisfying
These are quiet days, one hopes, to one's end…