The Hermit

The Hermit
Part 1

Beyond Two Sullen Hill, not too far away,
Lives a solitary man, bitter, old and grey.
Known as the Hermit with heart of cold,
His life of unpleasantness is often told.

Many believe you would turn to stone,
If you caught his stare whilst on your own.
Tetchy and crabby for he knows no fun,
Stays in the dark, hidden from the sun.

In a ramshackle barn house, he resides, 
Living on his own, to know one he confides.
Children believe stories of a Goblin myth,
Slaying victims at dusk, with a Neolith.

There must be more to this eremite man,
Whose body is frail and eyes are wan.
Believed to be Ninety and eight years more,
Was there a time when his heart was pure?


The Hermit
Part 2

Good morning Sir, how are you this day?
Tell me of your life, and why you live this way.
“I do not welcome strangers, or any one at all,
But, my time is getting near, I await the call.

Hitler took my home in early fourty-one
The house he destroyed, taking wife and son.
My dearest was 23 and young boy only two,
So, left a broken city, what else could I do?

I took a vow of silence and turned to God,
Became a recluse and viewed as very odd.
My life may seem morose and deeply sad,
Thought of as a grouch and slightly mad.

In truth, I must accept the world I see,
I asked nothing of life, it asked nothing of me.
Thank you for listening to my sad lament,
Grateful for your kindness and the time we spent”

Just a few days later the Hermit was gone,
Never had the chance to be someone.
Up on Two Sullen Hill, a stone of Granite cold,
To the Hermit, a posthumous, Heart of Gold.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2017



Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 5/19/2019 3:31:00 AM
I am glad you wrote a blog mentioning this your first post on poetry soup. I enjoyed the tale, the flow, the rhyme and the message. Especially liked the line “I asked nothing of life, it asked nothing of me”. A gentle reminder to love one another. Thank you :)
Login to Reply
Shaw Avatar
Kevin Shaw
Date: 5/19/2019 4:30:00 AM
Thank You kindly PS, regards Kevin x
Date: 5/17/2019 10:38:00 PM
Thanks for directing me here - a rewarding sojourn!
Login to Reply
Date: 5/17/2019 10:36:00 PM
Yeah, enjoyed this thoroughly, Kevin ... I am also fond of this type of poetic presentation, especially in a similar "epic" sort of frame, (have written a number myself, though few people take the time to read them) ... I even have some in two and three parts that qualify more as sort stories and novellas, but have posted on my poetry pages. Not many of late, after realizing folks don't take the time with them, but I'm edging towards a book, and they will provide inspiration. Superb write!! :-)
Login to Reply
Shaw Avatar
Kevin Shaw
Date: 5/19/2019 2:30:00 AM
Hi Gregory, thanks for reading and the kind words. I agree with you the longer poems tend to get overlooked and unread, I even have a poem in my PS collection entitled "no one reads the long ones" kind regards, Kevin
Date: 3/4/2019 8:13:00 PM
Such a great poem, well written, thoughtful and indulging. The Hermit is a work of art, thanks for sharing. Cheers. kev
Login to Reply
Shaw Avatar
Kevin Shaw
Date: 3/5/2019 1:39:00 PM
Thanks for your kind words, Kevin. The Hermit was my first poem on Poetry Soup and is one of my favourites, kind regards, Kevin
Date: 5/21/2017 4:47:00 PM
Very sad story, Kevin.. you wrote it well.
Login to Reply
Shaw Avatar
Kevin Shaw
Date: 5/21/2017 4:55:00 PM
Thank you Becca, the moral of the story is never judge a book by its cover, there is so much more going on inside, and if you don't look you won't find. Many thanks, Kevin
Date: 5/15/2017 6:57:00 PM
Wonderful! Welcome, welcome to poetrysoup.
Login to Reply
Shaw Avatar
Kevin Shaw
Date: 5/16/2017 3:31:00 PM
Thank you so much
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetics
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter