There Are Many Kinds Of Loneliness Poem by Shalom Freedman

THERE ARE MANY KINDS OF LONELINESS

There are many kinds of Loneliness-
There is the Loneliness of not being understood even by one-
There is the Loneliness of having been rejected by a loved one -
There is the Loneliness of simply having no one to speak with-
There is the Loneliness of having no one to help or be helped by-
There is the Loneliness that pains so much one wants to die-
There is the Loneliness one can bear and the Loneliness one believes one cannot bear-
There is the Loneliness that is Hopelessness and Shame and Endless Self- Condemnation-
There is the Loneliness of all saying ‘Yes’ and one knowing ‘No’-
There is the Loneliness of having to stand alone against the Enemy having been abandoned by one's friends-

There is the Loneliness that one knows one will get out of
And the Loneliness one can try to get out of,
And the Loneliness one knows will never get out of-

There are many kinds of Loneliness
More kinds of Loneliness than I can ever catalogue-

My Loneliness and your Loneliness and our Loneliness
And the Loneliness no one can name
And all are afraid of –