There’s a thing about being alone
and
there’s a thing about being lonely
and
they’re two different things.
I was alone
—but—
I was not lonely.
I was very used to being by myself.
I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Far from feeling lonely
or abandoned
I feel very much a part of what is taking place
(I don’t mean to deny
a feeling of solitude.)
It is there,
reinforced by the fact … I am alone now
and absolutely isolated
from any (known) life.
If a count were taken,
the score would be:
three billion (plus two)
over on the other side
and
One (plus
God knows what else…)
on this side.
That was the best part of the flight.
(From Al Worden: ‘The loneliest human being’ and Carrying the Fire by Michael Collins. Submitted by Daniel Galef)
Verbatim Poetry 