I heard a word on the street today.
Just passing through, on my way to nowhere
And I heard it. A man breezing past
Breathed it to another and I turned my head.
We'd never met before, had no
Connection but this word. That terrible,
Wrenching, blinding word that no one is
Supposed to say.

Loneliness. And it opened that gulf;
That carefully stitched cavern that no one is
Meant to see. And I turned my head back
Round and walked away, like I hadn't
Heard. Keeping up appearances.
Carrying on.