Loneliness is like a mantle - A Poem

Loneliness is like a mantle

Which falls upon the old.

It soon becomes a curtain

To hide them from the fold.

In a cluttered room she sits alone,

Her Bible is her friend,

Remembering brighter days

She thought would never end.

The winter nights are dark and long

As the daylight quickly fades.

It’s time to close the shutters

And pull down all the shades.

It’s time to think of supper,

But nothing comes to mind.

She has a dish of rice and veg

From a neighbour who’s so kind.

Her fridge is full of tubs of food,

But she doesn’t want to eat.

She’s simply not in a hungry mood,

Though there is plenty at her feet.

She has fruit and veg aplenty,

But tomorrow orders more.

She knows she doesn’t need it,

But it brings people to her door.

The TV plays throughout the day,

“For company,” she’ll say.

At times she calls the NHS;

An ambulance comes round.

And at the hospital they find

She’s well in body and in mind,

But still she lives each day

With loneliness around.

If someone comes to take her out,

She dresses like a queen.

She loves to be among the world.

She likes when she is seen.

She craves the gentle human touch?

But doesn’t feel it very much.

Her best friend is her mobile phone;

It stands by her when she’s alone.

Her faith in God is very strong;

The second coming won’t be long.

She sends out blessings by the score,

And then she sends out several more.

She loves her independence.

She knows it comes with strings.

But while she can, she wants to stay

At home with all her things.

Lonely people are the jewels

In society today.

Try to get to know them;

Try to pass their way.

You will be all the richer,

As so indeed will they.

A poem by John Macy remembering that some of the nicest and most loving people are the ones we almost never see.