By Douglas L.R. Hauge
.
Once upon a time I was not alone
I remember the joys of family
I remember childhood friends from a cherished past
I am alone
.
Will there ever be another day of happiness in my life?
Will there be a day when I will always have friends who care?
Will ever again the words be spoken to me, “I love you”?
I am alone
.
I want to give my love
I want to care about someone else
I want to care about others
Most of all I want to be wanted
I am alone
.
My father is gone, my mother is gone
My wonderful wife is gone too
My daughter, oh what painful choices she has made for me to witness
Will that pain of despair ever end?
I am alone
.
I look at my hands and I look at myself
I look at my things and what I have done
I love this single human being who takes care of all that is me
I realize that my existence itself is a treasure
I am alone
.
This treasure that is me is very good
It is the gift of my life from my parents
They were good too
They loved me
I am alone
.
I do not know where they are or if they see me
But I know that I must care for the gift they gave me
A gift that my wonderful wife so much loved
I am worthy to live
I am alone
.
There must be a reason for the state that I am in
But I do not know what it is
Maybe I should not know
I know not what the future holds
I am alone
.
But the gift that was me that I was given
Is a precious gift that I must love and care for till the very end
And I must vigilant to touch the lives of those who may need me
Just a smile, a question of caring for someone else from me
Can make all the difference there is
I am alone
.
To be alone is to be like a soldier on the battlefield
Care not for myself and I will fall
Care for others, help others
And there is not more joy that I could bring to another or myself
I am alone but we are all one
.
The stars in the sky
The trees that grow
The birds that sing
The fish that swim
My brothers and sisters that are mankind
We are all one
We all struggle for this precious life
Love them and all that live
Realize that truth
And I am no longer alone
.
Hear a reading of the poem by the poet here.
