In a room loud with laughter, glasses clink,
Echoes of farewell sweeten the bitter sips,
Neighbors, nearly strangers, vanish with each blink,
Their voices fading, like ghosts on departing ships.
Alone in the crowd, I find my quiet place,
Watching smiles that speak in a tongue not mine,
Their cheer a foreign film, without a trace
Of subtitles to guide me through the line.
The walls here breathe with tales of old and new,
A bar of wood, worn smooth by restless hands,
Yet, amid the noise, my solitude grew,
Stranded on the shores of these social sands.
Back home, silence greets me like an old friend,
Walls don't speak, yet they comfort without end,
In my solitude, I find no pretense,
Here, alone, the silence makes perfect sense.
Farewells are for those who have hearts to bind,
Tonight, my heart's a spectator, resigned,
In the clamor of goodbyes, I retreat,
Finding solace in my silent seat.
The night wanes, laughter dwindles into the dark,
I slip away, unseen, like a forgotten mark,
In the quiet of my couch, peace is stark:
Here, alone, I embrace the tranquil arc.
© Eric Montgomery, 12-April-2024
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