Andrea, another beautiful piece here. You always leave me speechless.

I come across this phenomenon all the time: feeling alone in a room full of people.

I relate to this sad affliction, because I too feel the same. We feel at constant odds with those around, even those in our close circle.

Why is it though that we struggle to make real relationships? Why are words from sunburned lips so troubling?

Why when being soothed by people that regard us as a friend does it feel they have the motives of a leach and just want to steal what we have?

The truth is I'm sure there are many possible answers, but if my experience is anything to go by it is because of trust, specifically, a lack of trust.

As children we rely on our parents for everything, our mother's milk, our warmth and love. If we are lucky we receive all of this, but if not the troubles start. If the love is warped in some way we become warped. As we grow we realise that we can't trust our parents. This maybe in how they treat us and the people around them. It's clear with parents like this a child will find comfort in their own minds. In a mind they can make up the love, the world where they feel safe. This child was silent to save himself from beatings. He spent days in solitude and was treated different. I guess it's no wonder he trusts no one and feels alienated amongst others.

Coming back to your poem. The struggle to make sence of our difference leads us to acceptance and a state of being comfortable with who we are.

Thank you for sharing, Andrea. X

Syrup,

There are a lot of Aspects / points in this one that resonates with me .....lots going on right now so i'll be back to comment properly but I have to say looking at it "critically" I love it, great word choice and feeling through out and i really like how it flows like glass, as always.

Awesome.

Andrea, as always your poems leave me enriched. As if I have been lost in a desert and came upon a body of water to quench my thirst. That is your poems! This is just beautiful, truly it is.

Oh, my heart sighs! How I've missed reading your poetry... it feels like forever since I've done so.

This stanza here:

"Maybe the darkest of nights
are meant for the fallen-
such as I."

- This sink into my heart. The heaviness of that burden, of that darkness.

I keep reading again and again those last two lines, because it strikes me how it can be that we can all feel so alone at some point yet be together in these thoughts?

Powerful, emotive piece as always. Hugs & love sent your way!

Congrats on your front page, such a beautiful piece Maple, you're such a sensitive and sensual person.

Holy shit. its been awhile since I commented on a poem, but this one stands out. There is a subtlety to the emotions that are at play here between these lines. So subtle, it doesn't hit you until the moment passes. When it does, I can only feel sadness. I can only see suffering. I don't fully grasp or understand the beauty that just walked on by. I would have missed it, if I didn't read the poem until the end. Thanks for writing.

Wow, Andrea this piece is just, wow, your writes, they always have spoken to me, there is such a special quality to your writing, its refreshing, deep, but so beautiful, every word is placed so perfectly. There's sadness, but when you reach the end it has a completely different feel, there's knowledge and peace, while there's still that tone of pain, many can relate to this one.

I'm a rose thorn in your side,
Love, A friend x

An interesting write Maple Tree. I liked the creative lines you use 'Maybe the darkest of nights
are meant for the fallen-such as I.' Such a great way with words!