L. J. Carber Poet Free verse

Some Are Not Meant For This World

(Dedicated to all those who have died alone.)


They cannot fit, they cannot go along,
and the reasons are wide: pride, fear,
even love never tempered by time,
illness of the  heart or mind, or simply
bad, bad luck: life throws them away
until they throw life away....

She was one of the gentle ones,
the unlucky ones-- a flower child
who missed her time, an era she
might have thrived in, free, alive,
unencumbered by family ties....

If she had come age in the 60's,
she might have lived into her 90's.
But lost and afraid in a cold world
not of her making, with her bird-
like heart breaking, she ate her
last hoarded apple, then lay down
to sleep and sleep and sleep until
she awakened safe in heaven's lap.


--judged NA in 'Will to survive' contest, 10/15/20--


[The poem was based on a true incident whereby a young woman suffering severe depression and paranoia  was released from a psych ward without anyone informing her family; she stayed alone for weeks in an empty, unheated house in winter subsisting only on half-rotten apples she had picked up from the ground in the back yard.]

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Constance La France November 8, 2020 at 5:33 AM LJ, congratulations on your win in my HM's and NA's October 2020 Challenge _Constance

Susan Ashley November 6, 2020 at 8:54 AM L. J., the power of your poignant pen takes my breath away. Your expressive poem is potent in emotion elicited by the sad beauty of your moving ink... your last two lines move me to tears, as I have two loved ones that suffer from severe depression. My heart cries for this young woman's fateful and fatal plight. Congratulations for your fine win with this important and amazing piece.. ~Susan L. J. Carber November 18, 2020 at 2:07 PM Thank you Susan, depression is a sad and terrible thing.... L. J. Carber November 18, 2020 at 2:06 PM Thank you Susan, depression is a sad and terrible thing....

John Watt June 10, 2020 at 7:38 PM Hard to believe how many fall through the cracks of society; a careless oversight, a missed phone call, who knows. A terribly sad tale, eloquently told. Bravo, L.J. L. J. Carber June 11, 2020 at 5:51 PM True John-- it's kinda scary to think each life is held to this world by a slender thread...thank you, my friend

Kai Michael Neumann June 14, 2019 at 3:36 AM That is indeed very powerful. Wrong time and wrong place and very sad. Kind wishes, Kai L. J. Carber June 21, 2019 at 9:17 AM Thank you Kai-- sorry I didn't get back sooner--had some minor surgery.

Edward Ibeh February 10, 2019 at 12:08 PM Wow, so powerful and moving, L.J.!:-) Thank you bringing it to my attention, because its now a fav! L. J. Carber February 11, 2019 at 9:24 AM Thank you, Edward-- I much appreciate it.

Constance La France February 7, 2019 at 9:11 AM LJ, this really touched my heart, your last verse is so beautifully sad, and that last line, is an aaaah moment, well done dear poet ~ L. J. Carber February 7, 2019 at 9:32 AM Thank you, DH--the woman suffered depression (something I can relate to) and was released by the hospital without her family being called. She took refuge in an empty house, hiding from neighbors, and wrote a heart-breaking journal of her final months.