The Lonely

I go to the lonely and ask him

"What do you fear?"

"Come close and I'll whisper in your ear..."

I shuffle my feet and draw near

"I fear that which causes me pain."

"What kind of pain?"

"The kind that comes from humiliation."

"Why?" my brow creased in concentration

"Because when I am humiliated I hate myself"

I lean back in confusion

"Why?"

"Because on the inside, I cry"

"Why?"

"Because when I am humiliated, others dislike me

and then I have no friends and I become lonely"

"But are you not lonely now?"

Now it's his turn to crease his brow

"Yes, I must confess"

"Why?"

"Because I shut myself away for protection"

"Protection from what?" is my question

"Protection from humiliation"

 

- Gilad Levanon -