Prompt: Write a poem inspired by this line from F.
Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby: “The
loneliest moment in someone’s life is when they are watching their whole world
fall apart, and all they can do is stare blankly.” Extra credit, use at least five of these
words from the novel—ravenous, melancholy, dissolve, resentment, ceaseless,
menagerie, nebulous, scorn, sport, fool, parties, tender.
How Did Your Day Go?
The sky is blue, the sea
is calm,
The beach ahead is smooth
and gray.
A time to shake off melancholy,
Escaping the menagerie.
I ease around the rugged
point.
I scorn the slow incoming
tide,
Ignore the ceaseless hiss
of stones,
Putting common sense
aside.
I stroll along the
narrowing sand.
I relish blissful time
alone.
Then, ravenous, reverse my
course,
Resentment and all outrage
gone.
An exclamation breaks my
lips.
The sea has swiped my exit
out.
Steep crags on left, high
surf on right,
A fool I am without a
doubt.
The loneliest moment in
one’s life
Is when they watch their
world dissolve.
I don’t stare blankly at
my fate
But strive to climb the
cliffs above.
My tender fingers split
and bleed.
Three times I tumble,
nearly fall.
I fight my way through
briar and brush
And finally scale the
rugged wall.
It’s dark but I can see
the glow
Of headlights on the road
to town.
Yet no one gives a ride to
tramps.
Sad and wise I trudge back home.
