Author: Mary O'Donnell These poems were submitted during Loneliness Awareness Week 2026, as part of the theme Giving Loneliness a Voice. Leopards Last night I saw the two of us sisters. We wore leopard-patterned coats, laughed like we did occasionally when I visited or she came here. My hair was yellow, hers pink, a breaking dawn on the horizon. We smoked and chatted as if nothing had changed. But a hinged bridge between us kept her in a cage. She chose to stay, blinking as if blind, me...

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...

Loneliness Awareness Week, June 15 to 21, was created a decade ago by Marmalade Trust, a UK charity, and is a global campaign dedicated to raising awareness about loneliness and how it can affect mental and physical wellbeing. This annual global event is intended to inspire conversations about loneliness, reduce stigma around it, and promote connection activities happening across the world. Former US Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, states “The ultimate solution to loneliness lies in each of...