The Ballad of a Lost Poet

wonder where i am
wonder what i am doing here
wonder whom i sing to

my voice has gone hoarse
my pen has dried
my tears have moistened my cheeks
on my lips my laughter has died

no one comes down this dark alley
no one listens, no one speaks
no one loves, or - oh the cruel truth - even hates
the loneliness is shattering
the indifference, battering
the silence is deeper than the deepest valley

thank you, dear people
and god bless

now, excuse me
while i peddle my pain elsewhere
while i seek other victims for my humour
while i throw my worthless words in another direction

excuse me
because, alas! poetry seeks an echo.