ALONE OR LONELY

ALONE OR LONELY

I am alone when I choose to be without company;

or decide to not talk, listen or smile.

I am alone in quiet solitude, turned off noise;

hearing refreshing silence;

deaf to sounds of life, struggle.

I am alone in good company, or free thought,

when options are mine.

I can be alone without anger or rejection,

defeat or surrender, when friend waits,

knowing, understanding.

I am alone when I am free

not to be without you. But,

I am lonely when no ears hear because I cannot speak;

life sounds are not speaking to me;

distance is not my measurement, walls or building blocks;

friend is not within reaching.

I am lonely when choices are not mine,

when I reach out and miss;

time and place are strange, white, quiet

and necessarily uncommon.

I am lonely with no hand to hold,

or one to chat

or share a crystal of wine.

Sometimes I am alone,

Other times I am lonely.

This hospital is a very busy,

healing, but lonely, place.

Richard E. Lake