Tuesday
Nov072006
ALONE: an anthem for humanity
Don't give me solitude
Because I'll have to try
To dig among my thoughts
To find a reason why.
Please busy me with work.
If there's time let me drink.
Give me philosophy
So I don't have to think.
Create more stuff to buy;
I'll shop until I drop.
Speed up the human race;
I never want to stop.
My Blackberry I need,
Computer and TV,
To occupy my mind;
Alone I cannot be.
Tuesday, November 7, 2006 at 10:39AM
Reader Comments (29)
i really fell alone
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You are not alone. Doug.E.Barr
Why so much fear?
Solitude is not to think about but to feel about. When your swallowing of solitudes overwhelms to the point that you feel like to throw up and want cry out Why?...There...you shall see a road brightly lit for you to walk along...Then, your Mind? NO! your Heart never to flinch again!!!...
Solitude isn't lonely no longer.....
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yours is an uncommon view. The evidence confirms "Alone" is the subliminal mantra of the masses. Doug.E.Barr
Alone
i reached out one day; i felt no obstructions in my way.
i extended arms to embrace; i felt no warmth with in the embodiment that I hugged.
i spoke words of kindness, null and voided none returned.
i turned once more searching, listing, reaching,determined,and saw only me in bailiwick.
Alabaster, of time, where none other than i am, in this moment where i be.
Who are you inside this space? i hear, i feel, i see, but me.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
As I said, we go to extraordinary lengths to avoid these thoughts. Doug.E.Barr
i am alone taking up space and time aimlessly wondering trying to find myself and make sense of this world but i am alone in this aybis of misguided thoughts like a endless train rushing through my mind or a river that winds to the sea take me back to my lonliness in space and time
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
You too are not alone in feeling alone. Doug.E.Barr
Do we only have to write poems?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Whether with prose or poetry, we all 'write' our chapter in the narrative of humanity. Doug.E.Barr
u r never alone because god is always here in tu corazon never forget about that.
He will stand by your side till the day that you die. he will wipe thoses tears if you ever cry
he will always be thier through thick and thin and he will love you till the very end.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have heard this echo many, many, many times before. Doug.E.Barr
that poem is soooo true
--------------------------------------------------
Yes. Doug.E.Barr
In my opinion, 'alone' is like a beautiful shadow which is always by your side.... if one can think of this way... speicaly poet.. then we can always find calm and serene within our hearts.... at times, we can talk to our shadows... we can sigh over our shadows... moreover.. as we tear and laugh, they do too...
if we can find a path lead us to this home of lonesome place -- we' ll never feel alone again, because till the last moment of life.. you always have a forever company- and a beautiful freind by your side- your very own, shadow.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It must be pleasant living where it is always sunny and there is no night. Doug.E.Barr
I am very lonely in my mind. I have just lost my Daddy 3 months ago and I so didn't want him to go. I was so close to him. I am now a walking mess. I want peace of mind...but my mind won't give it to me..I am lonely in a room full of people,because my body is there and nothing else. I have God in my corner and pray alot. Just to have my head stop spinning and to accept the things I cannot change wuld be a blessing.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The spinning usually stops. May you soon be neat again. Doug.E.Barr
i am not an author but i think this poem is very good and the word choice is great. the structure of the poem really makes you read each sentence and see what it says :)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for taking such time to read and analyze my poem. Doug.E.Barr
I want to learn how to write poetry. Your poetry inspires me to become a writer
Such great creation only comes from people who have master the subject of Alone.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Become what you are capable of being and keep a record. You may not become a writer but you will have a unique record. Doug.E.Barr
poem deleted
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I make no apologies for deleting your poem. There must be hundreds of sites that are set up to publish poems. Mine is not one of them. Doug.E.Barr
It seems that solitude and feeling or being alone are different things. Solitude is a condition, a pleasant condition which is often penetrated by loneliness. Poets are solitary individuals, as Rilke wrote. Although no man or woman is able to live completely alone for too long, poets are solitary creatures by nature. I have been without much friendship for many years and am content in my work. People a lot of times do not understand an elegant mind. So they resort to abuse and neglect. They are not worth seeking out.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for this first of three comments.
The state of "being alone" is the meaning of "solitude" so by definition they are the same; but they are both different than "loneliness". Solitude is a state of being while loneliness seems to be an emotion. Although it might still be a biological drive to simply seek the company of others as a necessity of life, loneliness now appears to be corrupted by the fear of being alone with our thoughts, in particular of "the void", the consequences of asking "Why am I?", "the last why".
For those who can conquer that fear, periodic solitude is a pleasant and necessary state. It is where we realize why we are. For those who cannot conquer that fear, solitude is equivalent to the void; and they will self-destruct trying to avoid being alone. They will not "understand" the need for solitude and they will if allowed, destroy those whose company they seek in their effort to fill the void.
Although in the the ideal, which is possible, we all conquer the fear, my sense is only a few of us have, a far greater number of us have not and thus humanity is dominated by a fear of being alone.
May you remain content in your work and yet find another who enjoys parallel periodic solitude. Doug.E.Barr
I AM ALONE,
I'M WAITING FOR MY DAUGTER TO COME HOME,
WHEN SHE IS NOT HERE I AM VERY ALONE,
I FEEL LIKE SOMEONE ELSE,
AND WHEN I LOOK IN THE MIRROR I SEE SOMEONE ELSE
EVEN THOUGH THAT SOMEONE IS REALLY ME,
SOMETIMES I THINK TO MY SELF,
WHY WAS I EVEN PUT HERE ON EARTH BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I AM SUPOST TO BE LIVING IN A DIFFERENT ERA,
AT DIFFERENT PLACE AND IN A DIFFERENT TIME, I DON'T FEEL LIKE I BELONG
I DON'T FEEL LIKE I'M AT HOME,
I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD BE SOMWHERE ELSE SOME OTHER PLACE
I FEEL I USED TO HAVE SOMEONE ELSE'S FACE,
I AT ONE POINT THOUGHT I WAS PUT HERE TO TAKE CARE OF MY GRANDMAMA UNTIL SHE DIED AND WENT AWAY
AND AFTER THAT DAY
I BECAME A MAMA
I THEN DECIDED NOT TO TAKE MY OWN LIFE AWAY
CAUSE MY DAUGHTER NEEDED HER MAMA TO STAY
YES EVERDAY I FEEL LONELY
UNTILL I REALIZE
THAT THE MAN UPSTAIRS WILL LISTEN TO ME
AS I LET MY DEEPEST THOUGHTS FLOW FREE
I THANK HIM 4 GIVING ME
THE MOST PRECIOUS GIFT AND THAT IS MY BABY
AND WHEN I'M WITH HER I'M NOT LONELY
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is one of 16 comments Crystal left. If you are interested in my general response to all of them you can read it below. Doug.E.Barr
I know you will delete my poem, but that's ok I just had to put it up there.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You left 16 comments on my website today. In your comment on Michael Jackson you said I am "rude and sarcastic" and began preaching. In "Heaven" you said I am "corrupted" and continued preaching to me and kept on preaching to me in "Happiness". In "God's Will" you said I am "still lost and walking down the wrong path." In "God's Voice" you preached again to me. On "God" you said I am "a very confused person." After "Love" you quit preaching and I was grateful because although I wasn't the least bit rude or sarcastic in my responses to comments on Michael Jackson, you were about to discover how vicious I can be when responding to anyone who presumes to be God's representative.
Your comment on "Afterlife" evoked pity that increased as I read the 'poem' you wrote above and your comment on "Answered Prayer". In your comment on "Christmas Poem" I got my first hint that the 'lights' might be on. They seemed to become brighter in "Chaos" and although in "Hummingbirds" you said I "totally confuse" you, I like to think I made you really think for the first time. I didn't change my mind as I read your comments on "War on Drugs" and "Why" where you wrote, "I really like this one. You did a wonderful job Doug. Keep up this type of good work."
I am not yet sure what I will do with your first 15 comments. My response to this final comment is that I will not delete your 'poem'. It is useful to me and I suspect leaving it here might be far more useful to you. Peace Crystal. Doug.E.Barr
Everyday I feel Alone and don't no what to do anymore I think that n no one even cares anymore so why should I even try anymore I feel so very alone everyday of my life. What should I do I need some advice now.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Despite an unprecedented effort to connect, my sense is we have never felt more alone and I too often feel no one cares. However, my general advice to you, even though I don't know whether ultimately anything matters, is try to keep caring, without expectations. Just because I cared that I do my best to explain life I lived alone from 1980 for 21 years. Because of my mother, I still hope it matters. In 2001 I invited my parents to live with me only because I cared they didn't feel abandoned when they could no longer manage on their own. I had no expectations of any benefit for myself. Watching my father die over three years was difficult but the benefit of living with my mother for the past 5 years is so far beyond any expectations I could have had I now wonder how I will manage without her. Specifically with others, don't look for someone to care for you because you think you need them so you won't feel alone, for you will feel even more alone. Just try to be aware of others to care about because they need you, and you will probably feel less alone. Doug.E.Barr
Your wording is so powerful, every poem I have read makes me think. I like the way you write it does my mind and heart good.
Thank you for sharing this part of your life.
Lenny D.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for telling me my poems have had the desired effect. Doug.E.Barr
people suck and are jerks those of us who are different are alone no one wants us
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not all people suck. Not all people are jerks. Everyone is different. Someone wants you. Doug.E.Barr
re your comment and response to Ann-Marie above (dated October 28 2009).
'Tis truly amazing how many actual individuals in this world of ours traverse almost the same, identical road.- without ever being aware of this fact. I too watched my father die through a life wasting and chronic long-term disease over the course of 3 years and still miss him terribly. Although in the respect of having my mother alive [ as you] she also passed away a short time ago and the ache is still very fresh - I relish what you mean - remember to take extra special care of the one parent you have remaining - you are fortunate in this respect - I pray each and every day she [and he ] was still alive. Although I am very fortunate and own to my husband and son for 3 decades plus we cannot have everything, can we? Ciao for now:)X
PS s1 Craigmillar website has a poem I posted on the news section / page regarding "The phoenix risen from the ashes," You are more than welcome to view same, should you so choose X
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We all travel the "same...road" and experience the identical dread of being alone with thoughts of the beginning, the end and the purpose of journey. The ways we try to avoid these thoughts can be different. Doug.E.Barr
Choice words Doug. Being "alone" often forces one to be introspective. I don't think most people enjoy introspection. It enables/forces one to confront him/her self with who they really are. Maybe that is where "fear" enters in. If people don't like themselves, it may easier for them to surround themselves with passive entertainment or with people they don't even like or care about, than to be "alone" and face to face with whomever lurks within them. I welcome solitude whenever I can get it. It can be our "Magic Carpet Ride" to our Happiness, our Peace and our GOD. Alone I MUST be....... Thanks Doug.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dealing with who we are or what we are can be a challenge but we need the most distracting help from others when trying to avoid the question that probes why we are. Doug.E.Barr