Earlier today, I had an 82 year old patient of mine tell me that the elder years are "The Age of Loneliness". She said that she lives in a retirement community and watches as people sit there, alone. Nobody comes to visit, many don't even get phone calls. She encouraged me to talk to my other patients about calling at least five people every week just to say hello. She said that we go through life surrounded by people that we call friends, our family, and those that work with us but as we age, those numbers dwindle, and for many, go down to zero. That's where this poem comes from.

Age Of Loneliness

Sitting, back to the door

Staring out the window

At the empty drive

while cars full of

Busy people that don't

know you exist

( some who do)

Don't bother to stop to

Say hello-to spend some time

discussing anything

More than nothing while

the shadows call out

louder than the living.

Nothing to do but sit

and stare, waiting on someone.

anyone.