“The self is not enough.
But that’s all we’ve got.”
Said a voice
across
my dream.
Yet I sensed a
small bright
glow
emerge
within.
As if some light
had already
opened
the tick
of a tiny
flower.
Split from
its negative
through darkness.
Under
these
still-closed
eyes.
(Above is a poem from when I was aged 20.
Inspired by things glimpsed during semi-conscious states.)
Creating verse seems beyond me, at present.
The flu, with its fevers and headaches, has eased.
But post-viral depression lingers on.
Viewing the current lockdown, from the perspective of someone
isolated by chronic illness (mainly housebound and alone) for over 30 years:
it feels rather strange to see so many people now
struggling to cope with a slightly similar situation.
If symptoms improved, restless urges for social life would also trouble me.
As fate turned-out, the chances for love, friends, or normality, faded long ago.
Of course, current restrictions could, shortly, be lifted.
While my own health problems remain incurable.
I thought of writing a post about dealing with solitude.
Though I worry this blog’s reach is too small, and my circumstances too unusual,
for helping others.
Comments are always VERY welcome! 🙏
Hope everybody is well?
Have you spent more time online?
(I’ve found lots of interesting new blogs in the last few weeks.)
Thanks for reading! 🙂
(Art on this site is mine.)
( anxiety / art / beauty / blog / blogging / depression / life / mental health / poem / poems / poetry / reading / writing )
Your poem and art are both very beautiful and I love how they complement each other!
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Thank you!
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I really like this poem Ken and your artwork is so beautiful………..very cheerful and colorful!
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Thank you, Wendi!
Sorry for the delayed response, I’ve been distracted from my usual routine, today.
Glad you like the post. That artwork is quite an early one, from when I was 15.
(I was feeling down about the stats, again, but they’ve recovered a little since this morning.
Depression is triggering those “Glass-half-empty” perceptions.)
I hope things are going OK for you? 🙏
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So far so good, thank you for asking Ken……..I am sorry you are having a hard time Ken but write yourself some encouraging words for YOU to read! You should be proud that you have kept up your blog this long……write these positive things down and read them to yourself. 🙂 You deserve to hear nice things.
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You are an old soul Ken, I am happy to have bumped into you in this world. Philosophy is one of my favorites too X Have a lovely day!
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Thanks for that, Maria!
So good to see you, here. 😊
I hope you will visit again. 🙏
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Such lovely art work and poem, thanks for sharing!
It is weird seeing others complain about being at home and not seeing others as much, especially when your a home body. Makes me be grateful that I enjoy my own company. But it’s one thing to be by yourself by your own will and another because of health. Sorry to hear that it’s been that long, Ken. Hope you have made peace with it and it doesn’t occupy your mind and take you away from the present moment. Peace and love to ya, Ken. Stay save! 🤙
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Thanks Moises!
Glad you like the post!
To be honest, I still struggle sometimes, emotionally, with my confinement.
The mind still desires what the body can’t attain.
I suppose there’s a natural frustration at not being able to do things most people might take for granted?
(Work/exercise/travel/holidays/friends/lovers/pets/driving/entertainment/sport/hobbies/etc.)
Hope you are doing well?
Is there “lockdown” where you are?
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Gday there friend. Thankyou for reaching out, I have been and still in quarantine. No internet for last three weeks, everything shut. Have today managed to get a cheap laptop and access, i was moved that you noticed a gap, because i felt strangely cut off even though i am a loner. Hope you are ok and safe. Peace and love.
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Nice to hear from you, Gary!
(I’d wondered if you got the e-mail.)
I missed you, of course, though it didn’t occur to me you’d be completely offline.
(That sounds like a bit of a nightmare: I’d feel in limbo without the internet. (Don’t even have a TV.))
And such bad luck, losing access during this “Lockdown” situation.
But I’m glad you are doing OK (especially given the current health scare). 🙂
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thanks Ken Hallett. appreciate your generous thoughts.
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I say it is more than enough. Without you have nothing at all.
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Thank you, Valeria!
You may be right.
Dreams don’t always make sense. 🙂
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I’m so sorry you’ve had the flu, on top of everything else. Your artwork and words are beautiful, and your spirit— and all this despite your confinement and challenges. “Inner lostness” is such a proper description for how we all feel now and then, though here I feel my own current cabin fever and isolation, pandemic induced, is so minor, in contrast, that I should shed it, for shame : ) Thank you for putting situations in perspective, and also thank you so much for sharing! I hope you soon vanquish that scourge of a flu, flus are no fun. See you around, and with best wishes— Peri
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Thank you, Peri!
I appreciate those kind words.
(My flu has died down, now.)
I hope you will visit again! 🙏
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Don’t been concerned that your words are insignificant. the poem is beautiful and as a 79 year old I share my thoughts about life and this world in the hope they were help or inspire someone else. We each have wisdom we have learned. Stats don’t matter. You reach those who need your words.
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Thank you for visiting my blog, Suzanne!
I am grateful for your supportive thoughts. 😊
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Ken, glad you saw my latest blog and I just started following you. 🙂 I don’t have words at the moment to say, given that you have been in isolation for 30 years but I will say two things – 1- being outside with our current society is more than overrated 2- the internet with its negative aspects to it, does at least connect others that need social connections. 🙂
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Thank you, Ann Marie!
Your blog, and your work, are both outstanding! 👏
I shall visit again.
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Dear Ken, I enjoyed reading your work. I do hope you get the opportunity of writing on dealing with solitude. Best regards and take care. Kceniya
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Thank you, Kceniya!
I hope you will visit again.🙏
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Beautiful words, and beautiful art 🥰
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Thank you, Leanne!
How nice of you to drop by.😊
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Thanks 😊
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I like it. Your artwork looks similar to some of mine. 🙂
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Thank you! 😊
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Beautiful art and wonderful pennig
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Thank you, Philo! 😊
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My pleasure.The art work is a treat to my eyes
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The art work and the words were fantastic, thank you for this post. I am sorry about your health problems.
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Thank you, Geri!
Good to hear from you!😊
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I Love this One ~
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Thank you!
I’m glad you liked it.😊
(Sorry for the slight delay:
Wordpress hid your comment in the spam, so I only just found it.)
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Your were wise at a young age. Liked your poem.
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Thank you for the lovely comment, Genie! 😊
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You wrote this at 20 ?!! Woahh! This makes me feel like my work’s so immature.
I am in awe.
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Thank you, Harshada!😊
(I think you are far too modest about your own work.)
Please accept my sincere APOLOGY for the long delay in responding to this comment.
It got overlooked somehow, and I only recently realised: to my shame.🤭
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Poetry with hope and image with eyes 🙂 butterflies with wings
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Thank you, Kalabalu!
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