A Room of My Own: Midlife Loneliness Tanka

risky as smoking

15 cigarettes a day

this disease

of midlife loneliness

stares at me, me alone 

FYI: The U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy recently highlighted the problem, claiming that loneliness was as dangerous to our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. It increases the risk of various illnesses like heart disease and raises quality of life issues like addiction, depression, the urge to commit suicide, and the odds of premature death.

Added:

3 a.m.

even the flower moon

for me alone

Added:  

harbor lights

dimmed by winter fog

a lone stray