August 29, 1995

what means solitude?
being away from others?
leaving all behind?

living in the wild?
apart from human contact?
alone in nature?

It means all of these
while yet meaning none of them
not as understood

the “others” meant here
these are not other people
rather other selves

my duplicity
the dividing of my life
into compartments

from this I must turn
leaving behind attachments
these must be eschewed

inner wilderness
this is where I must retreat
hid in solitude

wild must be my faith
entering where thought does not
into emptiness

not human contact
no...human dependency
from this must I part

alone are we all
when in nature are we one
where is no other

it is deep within
where solitude is first found
not behind doors locked

it is of spirit
that desolation consists
not of possessions

this is its meaning
solitude...desolation
the life found within

(to be continued...)