Inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe: Alone
December 27, 2009
*
From childhood’s hour I have not been
As others were; I have not seen
As others saw; I could not bring
My passions from a common spring.
From the same source I have not taken
My sorrow; I could not awaken
My heart to joy at the same tone;
And all I loved, I loved alone.
Then- in my childhood, in the dawn
Of a most stormy life- was drawn
From every depth of good and ill
The mystery which binds me still:
From the torrent, or the fountain,
From the red cliff of the mountain,
From the sun that round me rolled
In its autumn tint of gold,
From the lightning in the sky
As it passed me flying by,
From the thunder and the storm,
And the cloud that took the form
(When the rest of Heaven was blue)
Of a demon in my view.
*
This time of year can be wonderful, and full of cheer… but it can also be the toughest time of the year when we feel alone. Four years ago I lost a very dear friend during the holidays, because he felt abandoned.
If you are reading this, you are not alone.
I’m here!
Try me: MyQuestForBalance at gmail dot com
Or, if you’d like to leave a comment, you will find a loving community willing to embrace you.
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Hi Lisis,
I had a friend who lost a brother recently to suicide. Sometimes we need to get of our computers and make sure we’re making those around us know that they’re really cared for.
Gordie´s last blog ..2009 Recap Of Lifestyle Design For You.
Gordie, I cannot tell you how awful it is to lose a loved one to suicide and forever wonder, “Could I have done something to prevent this?” As an outsider, it’s easy to say… “It’s not your fault. There’s nothing you could’ve done.” But that doesn’t really make it go away.
The best thing we can do is make sure we are there for others when they need us. If they don’t reach out to us, we can reach out to them and let them know we are here. We can always try.
Lisis,
Your compassionate and caring heart always shines through so beautifully. Have we not all felt moments of alone-ness? And to know that someone cares, just because – there is a great level of peace in that. Lisis, I feel that so much here, that you and the community you have fostered here shine light out for everyone. This is a beautiful gift that you have, and one that your own open-ness just really helps others to open up and share their own truths.
We are not alone in this world, and there are people who care. Lisis, your presence always leaves me with this feeling. And that is so comforting…
Lance´s last blog ..Sunday Thought For The Day
Lance, you are so right… even though it doesn’t feel like it sometimes, there ARE people who care. That is one great thing about the internet and social media, that we can be here 24/7 for someone in need. Sometimes all it takes is that first conversation or two to let the person know someone cares to plant a little seed of hope.
Hope makes all the difference, doesn’t it? We have to believe that things can get better, so we have something to work towards. Your presence here always refills my cup of hope.
I have never been into poems (this is a poem right?), but this one was pretty powerful.
Thanks for being you, Lisis, and opening your doors. You are awesome and leading by example!
Henri @ Wake Up Cloud´s last blog ..Guest Post Roundup #1: Passion, Letting Go and Health
Haha! I’m usually pretty cautious about sharing poems on the blog because they tend to be a love/ hate thing. Sometimes they are so abstract and random and crazy, and beautiful only if you know the poet’s “process” or something like that. I don’t have the patience for those poems.
But this one, and much of what Poe wrote, speaks directly to my heart… particularly that part of my heart that once suffered so deeply. All of us at some point have felt alone and can, therefore, relate to others who are suffering that now.
Thanks for stopping by, Henri.
Dearest Sweet Lisis,
Losing someone at whatever stage and at whatever time can be very sorrowful. But, we need to a great support system full of love to get over that sorrow.
I am so thankful to have found you….dare i feel alone now
Your loving heart and your ability to love so openly are precious gifts…
Sweetie i also want you to know…that You are not alone..and if you ever need me I am here for you…
We all should be there for each other…cause it is this safe haven of a support system that makes us feel safe and comfortable to be ourself.
The blogging community is a wonderful loving and supportive community…come one come all…we are all here to welcome, love and help each other
NO LONELINESS HERE!!
Lots and lots of love
Z
p.s. i like the little tweak you made to the comment boxes design. makes replying to everyone that much more fun
Zeenat{Positive Provocations}´s last blog ..Take Advantage Of Five Things{Inspiration from Prophet Mohammed(S)}
Hi, Z.! Thanks for noticing the threaded comments! I’m very excited about that. My friend Dave Doolin was kind enough to nag me about it long enough for me to nag Ali about it, and now my FairyBlogMother has, yet again, granted my wish… or Dave’s wish? In any case, we are so happy to announce the introduction of threaded comments, which ought to make our 2010 conversations at the Q4B coffee house even MORE exciting (if such a thing is possible!).
To your other point, I want to thank you for always being there for me. I know I can always count on you, and a few other blogging friends to help me out of my dark spots. I think some readers my assume that, because I’m reaching out to help others, and blogging about staying positive, that I no longer feel the depths of sorrow. But that is not the case. And when I do, I know exactly who to call on to get me through. You, my dear, are high on that list.
Take Care, Sweets!
Lisis, your caring always shines through on your blog no matter what you write about. I saw your post on Facebook and came to read. My oldest son was once at that point, he shared the story later… he was alone in our house, in the garage about to end it, when his cell phone went off. It was me, calling to ask him to have lunch with me and my mom. He came to lunch…
There are always going to be people that no one reaches at the right time. The desperation is so high that they can’t see a way out. All we can do is be there for the people we can reach.
Blessings to you this Christmas season.
Wow, Julie… I have tears in my eyes reading that. Isn’t it amazing that your son could have been so desperate and desolate in that moment, and yet a simple phone call was all it took to snap him out of it. Obviously, beyond the phone call he had to do much emotional work to get to a better place, but you just being there to break that downward spiral of thoughts was the catalyst for positive change. I am SO glad that story turned out that way.
I’ll never forget, when I was in college, I flew a Search and Rescue mission with my flight instructor. We were looking for a 16 year old boy who had run away from home because of a girlfriend issue, and his dad was in the plane with us.
As we flew over the foothills, we spotted his car, alerted the helicopter, and they landed right near it. They radioed in to us that there was a hose from the tailpipe to a crack in the window, and the boy was inside, unresponsive.
It was such an awful moment, having found him, but a little too late, with his dad in our plane. Loneliness, desperation, and hopelessness can lead to some very faulty logic and deeply irrational thoughts. If I can help someone break through that darkness, I’ll be more than happy to do it.
Happy holidays, Julie!
Lisis, I had tears when I wrote it… his choice was an electrical cord and a bucket… and he would have been gone if not for the call.
That moment turned out that way, but my son’s journey is far from over. My Blame Game post is also about him, http://designresumes.com/blog/2009/10/the-blame-game/
He’s got a long way to go but inside is talent and ability. He is always in my prayers and I try to suggest options without being overbearing. A delicate balance it is.
Julie Walraven´s last blog ..Giving the gift that Really Keeps on Giving
psst…the threaded comments not only feel good but look good too
Tell Ali I love her tweak…its just beautiful! The perfect Christmas gift fro Q4B 
I know it! I love these things! Hopefully now there will be more interaction amongst other members of the Q4B family, too… not just me. This coffee house might turn into a cocktail party!
I love the coffeehouse feel, but I’m always up for a nice cocktail party with good friends! : )
Alison | Quest for Balance´s last blog ..Inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe: Alone
Hi, Zeenat. I’m glad you like the threaded comments! Hopefully they will enable even more direct dialogue among our readers. Thanks for your feedback. I’m happy to do something good for this community! : )
Thank You! I’m so glad I have a Fairy Blog Mother!
…and I’m happy to be it! : )
Alison | Quest for Balance´s last blog ..Inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe: Alone
Thanks Lisis, I’ve had a rough week, as you know, and found out who really does care. Thanks for being there for me and I hope we can talk again soon.
<3,
c
Hey, Charity! I’m so sorry that your week has been rough… perhaps even rougher than you expected. Let’s talk in a little while. Let me get Jeff off to work, and Hunter sorted out of his morning crankiness, and I’ll give you a call. I’d love to hear all about this crazy week of yours.
HUGE HUGS!!!!
Ahhh one of my favorite poems of all time. I came across this poem first in Jr. High school, and have carried it with me since then. It perfectly reflects the way I have often felt: alone, different from everyone else, unsure of my place in the world. I still feel that way from time to time, but it’s not as strong now as it was when I was younger. It is a nice synchronicity to see these words again, and to be reminded of how far I have come.
In other news, I love the threaded comments!
Jay Schryer´s last blog ..A Christmas Story
Well, Jay, I just figured it was one of your fave’s, since you and I share a brain. I’ve always loved this one too. We have come a long way, you and I, with our half a brain each… but we’ll never forget the way it feels to be in this world but not really part of it. Funny how so many of us feel that, but at the time, it seems we’re the ONLY one.
PS: I love the threaded comments, too! What I wanted for Christmas was World Peace, and I got threaded comments instead (not a bad consolation gift, really).
Everyone is just LOVING these threaded comments. I’m glad that includes you, Jay. : )
Alison | Quest for Balance´s last blog ..Inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe: Alone
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by LisisMB, Jay Schryer. Jay Schryer said: RT @Serene_Balance: Inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe: Alone http://bit.ly/8xxI7j [...]
Lisis,
What you offer to your readers on this blog is priceless! How can the world not become a better place with the community you continue to build? Thanks for caring so much.
Tess The Bold Life´s last blog ..Happy Holidays from The Bold Life
Thank you, Tess… my main effort with this blog has been to create a safe place online, where people can come to share their thoughts and feelings. I would love for everyone here to feel they can be open and honest, even when we disagree, and know they will be treated with respect and compassion.
I cannot thank you enough for being part of this community!
Hey Lisis!
Wanted to wish you and your family happy holidays an a wonderful 2010!
Keep up the great work on your blog
Ciaociao
Diggy – Upgradereality.com´s last blog ..100 Reasons To Travel The World
Hey, Diggy!
Thanks for stopping by, and I really appreciate you even remembering I exist, when you are on your whirlwind Amsterdam tour!
I wish you the very best for 2010, my friend.
Hey Lisis!
Long time no see (it feels like it’s been forever, doesn’t it?).
And I love this poem. I forget what it’s *supposed* to mean (as determined by my English teacher), but I take my own interpretation of it and move forward.
More back on track… Yes, for those who think they’re alone Mama Lisis has made a giant community of loving, happy-go-lucky folks that are ready to embrace you with open arms. Is Q4B the best community in personal development? Yep.
Brett – DareToExpress.com´s last blog ..DareToExpress TV: Episode #001
It does feel like forever! A day or two away from you, and suddenly I’m lost and resorting to poetry to cope with my emotions!
I’ll tell you what, unless your English teacher was Edgar Allan Poe, he/ she is full of crap. This poem has two meanings: the one the author intended, and the one each reader feels… and rarely will the two be the same. Whatever it means to YOU is all that matters.
Thank you, truly, for your sentiment about this community. As I was telling Tess, that is infinitely more important to me than the success of the blog, or the display of my amateur writing skills. This here’s a place that is not complete until the community chimes in… and then it comes alive.
I’m so glad 2009 brought you to this “coffee house” as well.
Mama Lisis
Thank-you
You are SO welcome. Thank YOU for letting me know you are there.
Take Care, cin, and email me any time you want.
Lisis
Hi Lisis,
So much comes to mind upon reading this…I will email you about it.
It is a beautiful poem and post. Thank you!
Nadia – Happy Lotus´s last blog ..An Honest and Open Look at Love
Hi, Nadia! I just got through emailing you and I am just thrilled that this post was meaningful and helpful for you.
Oh, and Happy Birthday, Beautiful!!!
Hi Lisis!
Thanks for this post today!
You are amazing.
(Hey, love the nested comments, Alison!!)
~xo
Love Much!
LoLo Bear
Lori´s last blog ..Audio Greetings
Glad you like the threaded comments! I hope they make the Q4B experience even better. : )
You’re welcome, Lori! I’m looking forward to some interestingly threaded conversations in 2010.
I’ve never seen that poem before and really enjoyed it. I’ve also felt different for most of my life and eventually learned that I’m a normal part of the human race.
Your continuing wish that you could have intervened in your friend’s suicide is evidence of how much you cared about him. I wish you could have, too. I’ve never attempted suicide, but I have reached that awful, hopeless state where there seems no other way out several times. It is so hard to reach someone when their vision is distorted in that way, and we can’t resolve the life issues that led up to that point. It is very important to be there for them, when possible, to help offer some hope, but with people who isolate, it’s not always possible.
Hi, Dot! I’m so glad you enjoyed the poem (especially since you hadn’t seen it before.) I think we all grow up feeling a little different, until we realize that every last one of us has felt the same way. Strange, huh?
As for my friend, Lou… not a day goes by that I don’t think of him. I know that even if I had tried my hardest to help him out of his darkness, he may have taken his life anyway. But what haunts me (and probably always will) is that I didn’t try… at all. I just got busy, and self involved, and excited about all that was going on in my life, and I put off calling him because, to be perfectly honest, I didn’t want to deal with “that”… his darkness, his mood, his depression. It felt like a downer that would rain on my parade.
Little did I know, a real downer is forever feeling like one simple phone call might have made all the difference (as in Julie’s case above).
But, alas, what is done is done. We may be shaped by our mistakes, but we are not defined by them. Losing Lou has helped me save many others, and I think he’d be proud to know he is a part of that. That is the best way I can honor him now.
Thanks for your comment, Dot… and happy holidays!
Hello again my friend,
Long time no talk Lisis
I have seen that you have grown much (as person/website) since last summer. Very proud of you and Alison for continually making this such a warm and comfortable environment.
Whew…your poem struck me to the core because it made me question if “being there” was enough for a friend that passed away. However, in my heart I knew I tried.
Thank you for the thoughtful poem Lisis!
Hey, Vincent! Boy, it HAS been a while. It’s great to see you back here, and around the blogosphere. I know Q4B had a bit of a roller coaster ride in 2009 as I went from newbie to obsessed to getting back to my roots, and what made me start in the first place. I guess it’s a pretty regular journey for first-time bloggers, but it is not for the faint of heart!
I’m really sorry about your friend, Vincent… but if you know in your heart that you tried, then that’s all you could’ve done. There is so much in life we have no control over and just have to learn to accept.
Thanks for being here, V! I look forward to seeing you around more in 2010. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help you out.
Thank you Lisis,
much appreciated!
you already have helped out Lisis….by sharing your thoughts and passions on your work of art here @ Q4B
I am excited about 2010 too
Vincent Nguyen´s last blog ..3D murals painted on the sides of buildings by Trompe L\’oeil (trick-of-the-eye) artist John Pugh
Hi, Vincent. Thanks for visiting! Yes, there’s been a lot of growth at Q4B over the past few months — the best part of which has been our growing community of readers. If there’s ever anything we can do to improve the experience even more, let us know, and we’ll try our best. : )
Alison | Quest for Balance´s last blog ..Inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe: Alone
Yeah… Ali is the coffee house barista, and your cocktail party server. She aims to please!
Beautiful Lisis, and so great to know you are not alone. Thank you!
Lana – DreamFollowers Blog´s last blog ..The Ultimate Guide to Creative Visualization
Thank you, Lana! I’m so glad I’ve gotten the chance to meet you recently. I look forward to getting to know you better in the coming months.
If you need me, you know where to find me!
Hey Lisis – As I am relatively new to this site, I must say that I am overwhelmed by the feelings I get each time I read a post and the comments that follow. There is an atmosphere so sincere and so incredibly beautiful surrounding this community that sets it apart from any other site I have visited. Thank you for creating such a magical place within the often stale realm of the internet!
Earl´s last blog ..A Decade of Wandering Ends, Another One Begins (Part 1)
Thank you, Earl… truly, you don’t know how much that means to me.
I remember when we first started “building” this second home, that Ali and I were very intent on creating a cozy FEEL… a safe place. At first, when we had like five readers, the best way to achieve that was aesthetically… the colors, the banner, the photos, and the tone. We wanted people who were surfing around the Net to land here and feel something entirely different, like stepping into a warm spa on a cold day. A bit of serenity in an otherwise chaotic world.
It’s a tall order, especially without readers. But now, as the community grows and starts to get involved, our dream is finally starting to blossom into something beautiful. It really does take a village sometimes. Thanks for being a part of it, and for adding Q4B to your long list of destinations!
Take Care!
Hi Lisis! An amazing post from a truly amazing person! I’ve been reading (and will be blogging about) how the internet could be the very instrument to bring all the world together with a new-found level of humanity ruled by compassion. There is not a doubt in my mind that YOU are a key player in all this! You light up the world, my dear! Keep shining!
As for being lonely, my dad told me early on (I was raised an only child on a farm and well-aquainted with solitude) that it is impossible to be lonely if you really LIKE the person you are with!
Learning to like myself saved my life, of that I am certain.
Huge hugs!
suZen
suzen´s last blog ..Carrots, Eggs & Coffee Beans – A Recipe for Thought
Hi, Suzen!
I’ve been meaning to tell you that whenever I read one of your comments anywhere, I get this sense that you are incredibly wise, loving and compassionate. Most often, if you’ve already commented, I have nothing really to add! You are such a sweet, and thoughtful listener (reader, whatever!).
I love what you shared here about feeling lonely, particularly since I have an only child and wonder about that for him from time to time. He assures me he does not get lonely, and I think he means exactly what your dad said. He enjoys his own company.
I believe that is also what finally allowed me to stop seeking hopelessly unhealthy relationships… I finally learned to be fine on my own. Wouldn’t you know it? That’s when I met my husband. Life is crazy sometimes.
Count me IN on your online compassion revolution. I’ll do whatever I can to help support that movement.
Thanks, Beautiful!
Hi Lisis and everyone,
It’s a beautiful poem.
I’m new to this site and very glad that I found out about it. There is a depth of feeling here that both moves me and makes me feel relief, unlike other sites which talk about compassion but don’t seem to reach any depth with it, or true understanding of how hard it is to cope with pain.
3 people who I have known well have killed themselves: my grandmother, a relative’s boyfriend, and a friend of mine. I know that in all cases, not much could be done to stop it from happening after a certain point. In the first two cases, it had been planned for a long time. In the last case, my friend, it seems that a medication to help with depression made things a lot worse. I did offer help to my friend but the medication started to speak, if you will. It took over. He was gone within 2 weeks after taking it.
I have another friend who told me that when she was a teenager she almost killed herself. What stopped her? Just as she was about to do it, the phone rang. She answered and it was me, inviting her over to hang out that afternoon. So she decided to hang out with me instead. I had no idea. I don’t claim that I knew anything deep down back then, either, but I’m happy that hanging out with me was helpful to her. Sometimes it’s hard to know what to do – if the person is suffering as badly as they are. People can be very quiet about such things, or they talk about killing themselves for years, and they sometimes do it, and sometimes don’t. I think that the best we can do is to have and be good friends and help when we can, how we can, but realise that sometimes people just need to go, to find peace that way – they do know that others care and it isn’t enough. The pain is too much. Other times they just need to know that someone cares and that stops them. It’s a complex thing, and the pain can be horrendous for people on both sides of this. There are many judgements about what is right or wrong, selfish or unselfish, when it comes to suicide.
Thank you for creating this site, and opening things up for discussion.
Lillea Woodlyns´s last blog ..How to Upgrade WordPress: Steps and FAQs
Hi, Lillea! What a beautiful name!
I’m so sorry about all of your losses, and so thrilled by the fact that you (unknowingly) were able to keep your friend from taking her own life. These things do get so complex, and painful, and confusing, that we each have to make our own decisions about just how much we can or should try to do. There really are no good answers, are there?
The best we can do is be there for each other and understand that others go through their own complex set of issues. The way you described this blog is one of the things I’ve often struggled with… how to convey genuine compassion, instead of just discussing it academically. I’m not interested in defining it, describing it, or preaching about it… I want my readers to FEEL it.
I want YOU to know I am here, I care, and you can always reach me when you need me. On top of that, there is a whole community here that is loving and compassionate and willing to help.
Thanks for joining our community!!
We all need to know we are acknowledged. We are valuable. We are loved. Thanks Lisis. We are here for you too. We are all in this together.
Erin´s last blog ..Press On, Stay Focused, Take a Risk
Thank you, Erin… really, truly, it means a LOT to me to know that this community is also here for me. I’d love to be able to say that I feel perfectly blissful every single day, but the truth is, I still manage depression and perhaps a touch of bipolariy.
Some days, honestly, are really tough, and I cannot tell you how many of my darkest days in 2009 were made brighter by someone in this community. Every single day I am thankful that you all are here. This is MY safe place, too!
We are, indeed, all in this together.
Your posts are always so inspirational. May you continue to expand your horizons and encourage others to explore the threshold of their own mind. After all, every journey is your journey and everyone learns about himself through the holograms of reflections discerned all around him. Happy New Year to you and yours!
Liara Covert´s last blog ..What is stillness?
Happy New Year, Liara! I love what you said here about our shared journey. It is so nice to know that, no matter how it feels, we are not alone. No matter which path we choose, others have traveled it and will help us get through. We are lucky to live in a time when finding those people, and connecting with like-minded souls is easier than ever.
Thanks for being here to share your thoughts with us!