yes, there is a great fear in our society, everything around us is designed to 'protect' us from being alone. Perhaps people who seek to be alone think more. Perhaps some perceive this as a dangerous thing. Thank you for this beautiful poem.
Posted by: Anna | Jun 30, 2012 6:26:56 PM
I need to offer a minority point of view, as someone for whom there is no such thing as too much alone time, who would quickly reach tilt without plenty of the stuff. The poet/reader here looks unhappy and she appears to have her eyes on the horizon. Not that she seems negative, only that she appears to be looking for something, and I would be more convinced if she looked like she had found it.
sure its a nice middle U.S.of a poem but it won't speak to those living on or just off the street
alone & aloneness
one lives & likes
our aloneness & yet!
some times one longs
for that sudden change
the unity of achieving
some kinda loving harmony.
Posted by: jim sharp | Jun 30, 2012 8:07:33 PM
Ruchira, do you think she is THAT young? Also, maybe she was just trying not to stare into the camera lens, which would have made her look needy and insistent.
@Elatia: I am very bad at guessing people's age. When I say young, I mean she has not yet reached the age where "aloneness" no longer causes anxiety. Different people reach that mindset at different stages of their lives. Some never do. I think in my own case I would not have learnt to enjoy my own company at the time that I did, had I stayed on in India with extended family and friends and neighbors who drop by without formal notice. In the US on the other hand, being alone a lot was the default, not the exception and the lesson was learnt early. I am still a gregarious person and very much enjoy the company of others but I am not terrified of being alone ... anywhere.
Ruchira, aHA! I too am an extrovert when I'm with people and an introvert when I'm not. Also, I have had poodles for the last twenty years, and a poodle is as much of a person as you can be and remain a dog.
I'm 46 and only now beginning to learn to be alone. There is alot of anxiety involved and some feeling of being a bit of a loser - particulary when I crave company but have no friends in this new city. I am not complaining. It is time that I learn to cope with these feelings. The posts here have been helpful. Thank you.
Posted by: Ella | Jul 7, 2012 11:14:43 PM
As an introvert I celebrate loneness but loneness is the most fun when your neighbours and the people who share your community are also happy and content.
Australia where laid back is a shared community goal.
"I couldn't tear myself
away from 3 Quarks Daily, to the point of neglecting my work. Congratulations on
this superb site."—Steven
Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University.
"I have placed 3 Quarks Daily at the head of my list of web bookmarks."—Richard
Dawkins, Charles Simonyi Professor of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University.
"Just wanted you to know I’m one of many who reads and enjoys 3 Quarks....almost daily."—David Byrne, musician, former lead-singer of the Talking Heads, artist, intellectual.
Comments
Wonderful.
Posted by: Patrick S. O'Donnell | Jun 30, 2012 8:07:51 AM
Really nice.
Posted by: Jim | Jun 30, 2012 1:12:27 PM
yes, there is a great fear in our society, everything around us is designed to 'protect' us from being alone. Perhaps people who seek to be alone think more. Perhaps some perceive this as a dangerous thing. Thank you for this beautiful poem.
Posted by: Anna | Jun 30, 2012 6:26:56 PM
I need to offer a minority point of view, as someone for whom there is no such thing as too much alone time, who would quickly reach tilt without plenty of the stuff. The poet/reader here looks unhappy and she appears to have her eyes on the horizon. Not that she seems negative, only that she appears to be looking for something, and I would be more convinced if she looked like she had found it.
Posted by: Elatia Harris | Jun 30, 2012 7:39:28 PM
She is young, hence the searching eyes on the horizon. I think "aloneness" stops being loneliness as we grow older.
Posted by: Ruchira | Jun 30, 2012 7:59:12 PM
sure its a nice middle U.S.of a poem but it won't speak to those living on or just off the street
alone & aloneness
one lives & likes
our aloneness & yet!
some times one longs
for that sudden change
the unity of achieving
some kinda loving harmony.
Posted by: jim sharp | Jun 30, 2012 8:07:33 PM
Ruchira, do you think she is THAT young? Also, maybe she was just trying not to stare into the camera lens, which would have made her look needy and insistent.
Posted by: Elatia Harris | Jun 30, 2012 8:25:45 PM
@Elatia: I am very bad at guessing people's age. When I say young, I mean she has not yet reached the age where "aloneness" no longer causes anxiety. Different people reach that mindset at different stages of their lives. Some never do. I think in my own case I would not have learnt to enjoy my own company at the time that I did, had I stayed on in India with extended family and friends and neighbors who drop by without formal notice. In the US on the other hand, being alone a lot was the default, not the exception and the lesson was learnt early. I am still a gregarious person and very much enjoy the company of others but I am not terrified of being alone ... anywhere.
@Jim Sharp: Lovely poem.
Posted by: Ruchira | Jun 30, 2012 9:42:21 PM
Ruchira, aHA! I too am an extrovert when I'm with people and an introvert when I'm not. Also, I have had poodles for the last twenty years, and a poodle is as much of a person as you can be and remain a dog.
Posted by: Elatia Harris | Jun 30, 2012 10:53:21 PM
I'm 46 and only now beginning to learn to be alone. There is alot of anxiety involved and some feeling of being a bit of a loser - particulary when I crave company but have no friends in this new city. I am not complaining. It is time that I learn to cope with these feelings. The posts here have been helpful. Thank you.
Posted by: Ella | Jul 7, 2012 11:14:43 PM
As an introvert I celebrate loneness but loneness is the most fun when your neighbours and the people who share your community are also happy and content.
Australia where laid back is a shared community goal.
Posted by: Robert | Oct 24, 2012 7:47:55 PM
Post a comment