That Visitor, Loneliness!

There is a visitor that is never in a rush to leave us, and it make us believe it is the only companion our souls will ever enjoy. - Money Normans Loneliness, That Visitor! Loneliness, What are we who encounter you Advised, Ordered, or just Prone to do -- When you "drop in" unexpectedly, swing by our homes, unlatch our gates, stroll into our dwellings, explore our hiding spaces, in our domains of solitude wherein we pray for peace and companionship, yet all we seem to get is "played" repeatedly, and sentenced to a life, existing alone, and playing solitary games? Loneliness, when you come around, are we to divert our eyes, look away from your seductive face, Shun you as evil, buck up and run? Are we to lie our colorful hands of cards down, flat, upon the blank tables - set or unset - tables for one? Are we to poker our faces and pretend that it is our choice to be black and blue, broke and bruised. Is it is our choice or the strange anointing poured on us as a curse camouflaged a gift? Loneliness, are we to fear you? Are we to clutch our belongings to our chests, Afraid you will snatch the treasures our Lonely souls have amassed in our hearts? Are we not strong, yet pitifully ALONE, According to the world’s evaluations? Loneliness, do we let you come stay with us sometimes Because you are as close to a companion or friend as we May ever even imagine having? Are we afraid that if we do not belong to you Then we may never belong anywhere, with any one or two? If we have no communion with you, then we will commune with whom? Loneliness, are we to make eye contact with you? Are we to just grin or grimace, accept that You at least express some interest and never seem in a rush to forsake us? Should we not be grateful that After we go and work and stress all day That we have you to come home to? Should we not feel happy, lucky or blessed to still be alive, even if we feel so alone, in this “ju-ju” neighborhood on this “rooted up” planet that never, ever . . . feels like home?