LONELINESS

Is there another word so black?
A word so rich in sorrow
One that cuts so deep the heart
And darkens all tomorrow

It describes most all our woes
Love lost, unwanted, cast aside
All mortals have at times felt it
Some can never from it hide

It is a pitiless creature
Of young and old, it shows no remorse
The child, the woman, the man
And guides us through life’s course

It creeps upon its victims
And comes and goes at will
With or without a partner or friend
It strikes and haunts us still

It knows just where to find us
In crowded rooms or hideaways
And stabs our hearts and twists our souls
Then wastes away our days

We know not how to fight it
Live life and take a stand
But in time it creeps back
And takes us by the hand

We smile and laugh to seek release
For it tests our will to be brave
But in all our grief you’ll find its hand
Till it takes us to our grave



Michael Tank
12/23/01





"Copyright 2004. Michael E. Tank All rights reserved. No part of this document may be copied, faxed, electronically transmitted, or in any other manner duplicated without express written permission of the author."