On Being Alone (poem) by John Herlihy on AuthorsDen

On Being Alone
by John Herlihy → (All Poetry by John Herlihy)
Saturday, February 22, 2025 Rated "G" by the Author.

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-- On Being Alone -- by John Herlihy Is it wrong to desire to be alone, Alone in the world without any ado. Alone without any loneliness prone, Loneliness that in with the wind blew. The howling sound inducing sorrow, Only baren emptiness, a wolf in a lair. Today damnable, what of tomorrow, Out of my hollow eyes, I simply stare. No, that’s not how I see my condition, Alone I walk thru the door of solitude. The song I sing uses its own rendition, Notes of an adagio inducing quietude. A pleasant interlude when on one’s own, No one else to make pressing demands. The mood of shadows and light sewn, I talk to myself, no need for reprimands. Wherever I am, I deem myself at home, Rain falls, the sun shines, flowers grow. At one with nature under heaven’s dome, One never truly alone with nature in tow. Being totally alone is in the way of things, We are born, we die, so much in-between. We treasure the unexpected our lives bring, Loneliness with solitude know what they mean. Can happiness be found when one is alone, All by oneself with no one else ever around. On the shore, brittle bone or smooth stone, My only true companion, a silence profound. - - - - - Copyright © John Herlihy Monday 23 December 2024

Reviewed by Mystic Rose

Reviewed on February 28, 2025

One is never truly alone John, when on has poetry and friends :)

Reviewed by Jms Bell

Reviewed on February 25, 2025

I AM 80, ENABLED TO EFFICIENTLY CARE FOR AND DO FOR MYSELF. I HAVE NO SPECIFIC QUALMS AND HAVE FOR NEARLY 15 YEARS RESIDED IN MY OWN SENIOR CITIZEN'S, 2 ROOM APARTMENT, ON THE 8TH FLOOR IN A HUD CONTROLLED-RENT SENIOR CITIZENS COMPLEX...BUT NOT ALONE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO(AND I TELL 'HIM' THIS ALL THE TIME)WITHOUT GOD...WHO IS MY LIVE-IN COMPANION. I'M AGREEING WITH YOU TOTALLY, JOHN...IT'S DEFINITELY NOT GOOD TO LIVE...ALONE(BIG SMILE). THANKS FOR SHARING. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS

Reviewed by Kay P Devenish

Guess what? I am here alone ,it is 5minutes to 4 a.m.Australia time.Before I turned on this computer to submit an old poem I was sitting on my lounge in my quiet lounge room my elderly eyes gazing at the small candle's flame which just gave me enough light to ponder upon. I thought I was alone too until I found your poem and then I was not alone because I found a kindred spirit in your awesome poem.

Reviewed by Diana Legun

Reviewed on February 24, 2025

The portraiture of �aloneness� you paint here is astute. It carries certitude and appreciation. Three lines shine out the brightest for me: � Alone without any loneliness prone,� & � A pleasant interlude when on one�s own,� & � On the shore, brittle bone or smooth stone,�. And with the image you have chosen, there is also a vast sense of �spaciousness.� Delicious writing, John. ~~ djl

Reviewed by Aberjhani

Reviewed on February 22, 2025

A powerful philosophically reflective read. Enjoyed it very much.

Reviewed by Odin odin@aflx.com

My humble answer to your last stanza is: yes. As you so adroitly expressed, there are many aspects to aloneness and at an age with many gererations in the rear-view mirror, there is much to relate to, needing no one but yourself to hear. For many of us, the aloneness is the perfect opportunity to as you so beautifully captured in this phrase: Alone I walk thru the door of solitude.

The song I sing uses its own rendition,

Notes of an adagio inducing quietude.

Those who experience the everyday version of aloneness should read this extraordinary rendering of a soul in total accord with the magic and noiseless time of aloneness. Well done, John.