He Walks Alone

 He walks alone.
He has always walked alone.
As a child, his family moved every year.
He made new friends
and lost them with every move.
He learned to walk alone.

As a teen, he was awkward with girls.
He liked them but knew not what to say.
It didn't matter much,
as the next year, he moved away.
Again, he walked alone.

In one place, he fell in love.
She  loved him, too.
He knew it couldn't last;
He prepared himself to walk alone again.

Years went by, he settled in one home.
Nurtured friendships and learned to trust.
Thought friendship would last forever.
He was wrong...friends will drift away.
There he was...walking alone.

He married and children were born.
He vowed "til death do us part".
A bridge washed out, wife and kids were on it.
He visits their grave every Sunday.
Alone. He walks there alone.

He's stopped seeking love now.
He knows it can't last.
There's no reward for trying.
He's accustomed to walking alone.

If you're wondering at his aloof demeanor,
his deliberate distance,
his lack of affection...
He's been shattered and abandoned too often.
Now he prefers to walk alone.

©Ellen Pepper 2026