Though now
Long in the tooth
Years (lifetime)
Spent vying
The solitary
Ribbons
Of pathway
Throughout
This world
Encountering
Darkness
That is
Without
Limit
A void
That echoes
The enticing
Shroud of death
He
Is not
Without
Familiarity
With those
That frequent
The villages
Travelling in packs ("community")
He
Doesn't fear them
Outright
Though
Has been
Content
To inhabit
Their periphery
He knows
The sting
Of their
Forked tongues
And
Has learned
Not to take
Refuge
In the masks
With
Their disingenuous
Smiles
He considers
While
Now
The autumn
Of his life
Approaches
Whether
Any merit
Exists
To come
In from
The cold
There
Have been times
When
The conviviality
Round the
Fire
Held
An unheard
Invitation
But
Was not without
It's
Hidden snares
Certainly
He needn't
Wonder
Could he
Make it
On his own?
He had
Spent
Little time
Any
Other way
To join
Would
Never mean
Compromise
Or
Be banished
From
The collective
There
Simply
Was no
Threat
In being
Ushered
Back
Into solitude
However
What of
Sovereignty
Autonomy
Freedom
How
Would
They fair?
Now
This presents
A formidable
Concern
And
A worthy
Question
What
Is worse:
Continue
To walk
Alone
Or
to live
Out
His life
Exiled
Within conformity?
R. O'Neill (October 13, 2019)
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