you had me up to 'they no longer fit' - excellent stuff to which i can relate (sadly)

oh, and i also love the snake skin simile, ty

Ah John, so deep and insightful. I loved this poignant and excellent poem.

Reindeer

an excellent write with a bare honesty that is so lacking in this day and age.

I loved it right up to the point of imagining you naked...then you lost me to being sick...;) Ed

SUch an honest poem...thank you John!!

Much insight in this one my friend!!

Love Tinka

I understand where you are coming from, John. We are more affluent, have more to amuze ourselves with, but somehow it doesn't seem to be enough. Or maybe it is too much. I recall days when, yes there were people with depression and tired of things, but they really didn't have the time to complain about it either to themselves or to others because who would hear except those close to him? These days, computers and all its related devices are a springboard for our dessent to be see and heard by millions with a flick of the wrist. This is good. This is bad. Our culture is inch-by-inch being overcome with far too many thing which are supposed to make us happy. But we are forgetting to look within ourselves with hard, careful assessment. Don't think for one moment I am preaching, for I am not. Your poem spurned this on. In a land of mild and honey, we American's are more critical and depressed than ever before.

Honest naked poem, well-crafted, and posing an ultimate question: who am I and where am I going?

Splendid poem! One I can easily relate to, but you wrote it better than I ever could! Thanks for sharing!

Eileen

John,

Thank God for honesty, and thank God for those few slender words against the night! I absolutely felt the loneliness--powerfully emotive expression, very well done.

(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.

Soul-searching honesty well-shared, John; yours is a universal theme although many would not admit to it. Love and peace,

Regis

Or maybe too small for a larger reality? Either way, this is an incredible write of a man stripped bare to his soul "with only these few slender words against the night..."

Lin

Spring equinox is a good time to clear out your "toys" John. All you need is your words to keep you company. Good, cathartic write! We need to purge our emotions every once in awhile, merge fantasy with reality.

Sage