A Man So Lonely

A man so lonely

lost without a goal,

nursing his empty heart

and a matching soul.

Faded memories of

old holidays past,

shared with loved ones

that just didn’t last.

As a young child

there was good and bad,

with an 80 proof man

he always called dad.

He dated some women

in search of love,

but all too often

none fitting like a glove.

His first was older

while he was in the Navy,

he was so young

recalling her hair wavy.

It went on for months

his heart she carried,

she was a great teacher

then revealed she was married.

There was even a girl

with hair of red,

Italian and sassy

his heart she fed.

She became pregnant

but had to abort,

due to cervical cancer

a tiny life too short.

Finally in his thirties

a woman took his breath

twice married before

her name was Beth.

Soul mates from the start

lasting twenty-three years,

so much was shared

filled with love and tears,

But that all ended

torn by a family that lied,

after the divorce it

was from cancer she died.

Then there was Sue

they met while singing

and after two tries

his heart is still stinging.

Through out all the years

a most special person,

a proxy sister-soul mate

Sylvia was a loving version.

Now he’s alone again

without woman and mate,

life so far removed

and never feeling great.

Part of him wants

to last to a hundred,

to find a women

that love has funded.

But all to often

with no wind in his sail,

doubting strong hopes

fearing a relationship fail.

A man so lonely

lost without a goal,

nursing his empty heart

and a matching soul.

Gary R. Cramer

December 26, 2021