Loneliness Poem by sunanda Menon

Loneliness
I met an old friend of mine a few days back
Was shocked to see her grief stricken and pale
A sad, far- away look she had, as if to say
My life is over, nothing seems to be on track.

She lived alone, by herself without her mate
For he had fallen victim to the cruel hand of fate
A warm welcome, to give me, she tried her best
Her smile was on her lips, in her eyes it did not rest.

‘Are you O.K'… to ask her I gently dared
She just about managed to nod her head
Are you lonely? Opened the floodgates of her eyes
Wiping her tears, above a whisper, she replied,

‘No matter how fast you run the race of life, it creeps upon you
The more you loosen its grip the harder it holds on to you
At every milestone of life it seems to gain more ground
Forward it inches nearer, trying to catch up with you.

It breathes down your neck when age is not on your side
Knowing in a senior citizen a vulnerable mind resides
It seems to engulf you like mist on a mountain top
Your joy, happiness and emotional wealth…everything it robs.

You call out for help but nobody hears your call
You feel invisible, as if you do not even exist at all
All kinds of tricks with your mind it plays, your
Clarity of thought wanes and only nagging doubt remains.

You might wonder what I am talking about
Because my friend, it hasn't got to you yet
Its loneliness my dear, a dreadful disease
Something nobody seems to talks about.'

‘There is a solution in sight', I explained
‘Do small things daily no matter how mundane
Follow a schedule making the clock your friend
Get dressed, go out and talk with people around

Conversations with people is like warm sunshine
And laughter it's cheerful and bubbly birth twin
Important both are, and needed every single day
For one's health, happiness and well being.

You feel lonely because your heart is
Dried of love; so empty and barren it feels
To replenish this pot of love in your heart
Give, to experience the true joy of giving.

Make small talk with people and remember
To give something to someone everyday
A smile, a compliment, clothes to the needy
A tinkle to a friend, it could be just about anything.

I will look you up every-day for a week
For a walk in the park I will take you
But if you do not make the effort yourself
The world will definitely forget you.

The choice is yours to make; flip the coin
And see, the loser, not always is you
There are a whole lot of others in this world
Who have less and are less fortunate than you'.


Copyright: SunandaMenon Date: 27 September 2016