I’m posting this for this week’s Poetics Challenge at dVerse Poets. This week’s host (Lucy) asks us to post something dark, using a formal ballad structure.
Not much of a balladeer am I, but…
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Hermit’s Turnabout
He didn’t mind the solitude
— it never left him lacking —
If anyone came up his path
he’d always send them packing.
But things were changing every day;
he’d given up his labors:
he never had to guard his gates
for now he had no neighbors.
When all his streets were dead-end streets
and everyone had fled
he sat alone (as he’d always done)
but wishing he were dead.
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dVerse Poets Pub
Tuesday Poetics
~ Make It Dark ~
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Scrambled, Not Fried 
Darkly funny 🙂
Dark humor with a tragic ending–yes, please!
Truly, this is hilarious but it explores the results on what happens when we push people away. It often leaves us with effects that we did not anticipate, and that once this happens all we are really left is with ourselves.
And that can be miserable, being in the company of the self. Hahaha!
Fantastic ballad.
sounds like this might be a bit close to home … I know a few like this but pray the death wish is dramatic license Ron
A powerful response, Ron! The world as we know it is filled with all sorts of people. It’s upto us in the end how we pave our way through the madness 🙂
I surely can relate to this one, Ron. Hermits are cool with the solitude as long as choice is theirs.
Well done Ron!
A dark ballad infused with humor. Enjoyed this tonight!
With no neighbors, its all a dead end streets. Good one Ron!
Sounds like the hermit should have been careful what he wished for, Ron!
This seems somewhat prophetic, Ron, especially in these pandemic times. I’ve known a few hermits in my time, some of whom had a change of mind, one or two died alone. Humans are by nature social creatures.
Ron sadly dark ending but very powerful well written piece I enjoyed it.
How very sad but all too familiar. It was a very sad ballad Ron 😢
Grim irony, Ron. Being alone isn’t much fun when you don’t have a choice, is it? Brilliantly crafted bittersweet ballad!
I think that even a hermit needs someone to see how lonely he is … really great.
wonderful twist!
Solitude is a beautiful thing. Wonderful Ron.