I have heard the word as a condemnation
by a religious hierarchy
which meant a severing of ties with a wayward sinner,
ostracism the worse thing for
one interested in staying -
this loneliness and pain desired by the keepers of the norm.

But I think of those with whom my communication is ex.
Al, my former close friend who turned his norms onto me
Jackie, a good and loving woman now gone
James, a man who no longer wants to have lunch with me.
There are a few more
who’ve wittingly or not
closed the door
but in every case a kind of sad weight
abides near my heart, a pain that literally aches
with tears just behind  my eyes.

One day,
There will be
No other days
But memories.

Two days
Met in a graveyard.
One was laughing
The other was crying.
What makes you laugh?
Your life was so rough.
What makes you cry?
Your life was a big lie.
Life is just one day!
You and I
Were nothing but
Two days.
Living in a weird maze.
What's another day
If your today is identical
To your yesterday?

Our life is a story
   without a title.
   We lost it
   In tittle tattle.
   Hatred,
   wars and battle.
Our life is an arena
Opponents like
A deer and hyena
Pain, tears and sorrow
No hope for today
Or tomorrow.
What's life in a world
Full of people
With an empty word.