Hidden Veils of Loneliness (poem) by John Herlihy on AuthorsDen

Hidden Veils of Loneliness
by John Herlihy → (All Poetry by John Herlihy)
Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Rated "G" by the Author.

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-- THE HIDDEN VEILS OF LONELINESS -- John Herlihy We all know loneliness as a harrowing state of mind, That has little resemblance to feelings of another kind. Loneliness brooding enough as we find ourselves alone; What have we done that we must in this manner atone? What loneliness can be more lonely than that of distrust That arises as we realize there is no longer left any trust Those feelings of intimacy that flourished newly awoken Now fully smothered in shadows with our heart broken What loneliness is more lonely than the loss of a friend A once thriving intimacy now to bear vestiges of the end A chill has entered the relationship and hovers ever near The nearness replaced by distance never to be held dear What loneliness is more lonely than the loss of one’s love To once soar forever heavenward on the wings of a dove Now to reside in the dungeons of despair forever deep No incarceration so lonely with tears overflowing to weep What loneliness is more lonely that what sorrow sets forth Highlighting an aloneness that even questions one’s worth Friends take their leave, love betrayed, close relatives die We take part in meeting destiny without fully knowing why What loneliness is more lonely than all the things we miss Childhood, youth, parents to foster so many feelings of bliss Who ever thought, much less imagined, so many things lost The loneliness generated by an emptiness with so much cost What loneliness is more lonely in the corridors of being alone Empty solitude, brother of loneliness, to which some are prone Lift the veil of solitude and you will find exposed a lonely waif All the miseries of being alone to prey upon the mind to chafe Who still doesn’t know loneliness as a harrowing state of mind? Is anyone out there who hasn’t suffered its feelings so unkind? Loneliness of being alone, of sorrow and suffering, of all we miss; What loneliness is never so lonely than this deep, yawning abyss. Yet what loneliness sheds its skin to reveal a fresh opportunity, A loneliness so lonely that it faces itself boldly with impunity. A loneliness that has us realize all those people we ever met, Who extended a hand to smile, lifting us from our lonely regret. - - - - - - (c) John Herlihy 19 March 2019

Reviewed by Jms Bell

Reviewed on November 7, 2019

INDEED, MY FRIEND...FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THAT EVERYTHING HAS A POSITIVE AND A NEGATIVE; IT IS IN OUR WALK ON THE DARK STREETS OF LONELINESS...THAT THE LIGHT OF GOD PRESENCE, THRU SIGHTS AND KIND GESTURES, HERE AND THERE...DOES SHINE SO BRIGHT! WONDERFUL SHARING, THANKS, JOHN. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS

Reviewed by Sarah Sadat Kameli (Reader)

Reviewed on October 20, 2019

"What loneliness is more lonely than the loss of one�s love..."

Loneliness hurts so bad.

Reviewed by Ed Matlack

Reviewed on October 16, 2019

I like what both Rebecca & Richard said and find it hard to improve upon their opinions...-e-

Reviewed by Rebecca McKeehan

Reviewed on October 15, 2019

Sometimes I think its in the nature of a poet to know loneliness and aloneness to a greater extent than most. I can't decide if that makes us our best friend, or our own worst enemy. Perhaps both?

Rebecca