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Solace

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Solitary.  Alone. Social distances blown away

On a fine spring day. Bloom like the moon.

I've been practising self isolation for decades

I say aloneness is central to the human condition.

Not loneliness.  Not that which scars and scares,

Sinks and separates. But a choice, to recognize

We are born to be alone. We die alone.Cowards

Die many times, the brave, just that one significant

Drift into death. Leaving others bereft. Ourselves?

 We step out of time. Grind our heathen teeth with

A kind of unfocused, half-arsed relief. Finally,

We shake off this mortal coil. Stand tall. Alone.

◄ The northern mockingbird

Johnny Keats 1795-1821 ►

Comments

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John Marks

Sun 29th Mar 2020 23:52

Yes. I do Keith. Knowing we are alone does not make us lonely. It makes us real. And it does not make us stop loving all those others who recognize their aloneness. I am not lonely. I love my family and friends. But I am alone. Take care my good friend and stay safe. We need your wisdom.

This is a very long quotation but worth reading, Rainer Maria Rilke is a beautiful poet:

“Therefore, dear Sir, love your solitude and try to sing out with the pain it causes you. For those who are near you are far away... and this shows that the space around you is beginning to grow vast.... be happy about your growth, in which of course you can't take anyone with you, and be gentle with those who stay behind; be confident and calm in front of them and don't torment them with your doubts and don't frighten them with your faith or joy, which they wouldn't be able to comprehend. Seek out some simple and true feeling of what you have in common with them, which doesn't necessarily have to alter when you yourself change again and again; when you see them, love life in a form that is not your own and be indulgent toward those who are growing old, who are afraid of the aloneness that you trust.... and don't expect any understanding; but believe in a love that is being stored up for you like an inheritance, and have faith that in this love there is a strength and a blessing so large that you can travel as far as you wish without having to step outside it.”
― Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet

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Martin Elder

Sun 29th Mar 2020 20:48

For me it is about finding that balance between socialisation and the times of being on our own . I am perhaps fortunate in that I am not one of those who seeks to fill the void with ceaseless babble.
well written John

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victoriavautaw@gmail.com

Sun 29th Mar 2020 02:51

Isolation has always been my happy place, but it is nice to connect with like-minded, peaceful, creative souls online. Another great one John!

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keith jeffries

Sun 29th Mar 2020 00:07

John,

I can so well relate to these words. We arrived alone and we depart alone. The time between might be filled with the voices of others and developing relationships with them but even in the most intimate moments with another we are still essentially alone. It often seems to be that the body imprisons us in a cell of loneliness.

I have self isolated for 72 two years. Do you think that as part of our spiritual journey we shall ever know anything different?

Thank you for this

Keith

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