Strategies For Living Life Poem by RIC BASTASA

when he goes out into the world
there are no arms waiting
it is loneliness that walks with him

so he decided to stay and close the
doors and windows

thinking that in this way the world
will love him as others expect

the rope of loneliness chokes him
and so he prepares to go back into the open

he dresses well enough to face the wind
and dance with the shadows

they demand that he tells him his real name
and not wear a mask and sing the usual song

he refuses to cater to a brutality
he goes back to his room and reads a book

and closed the door again
and he grows up into a very strong silence

confident upon the soundless nook and
expects no one to call his name again

at the end he learns this game of
responsible loneliness

the one that does not speak when hurt
that does not smile even when seduced by joy