WHEN THE WORLD ENDS Who will kiss my lips when the world ends? Shall I slip from the embrace of existence Unknown and unloved Lost in the impenetrable mist of anonymity, Falling through the clouds, gown twirling in the wind, There will be no one to break my fall Or offer me comfort when reality fades away Disappearing like a desert mirage. All lived moments rendered intangible, Impossible to cherish and hold, As the dust rises from the belly of the world Sparkling with heavy drops, erupting like a geyser. Who will kiss my lips when the world ends? Wrapped in a blanket of memory, I tell my story Beginning with the dreams of childhood Hungry for companionship Searching the hills and valleys for my twin. Loneliness is fearsome It devours the spirit with empty eyes Predatory, it stalks the vulnerable Haunting death beds and hotels. It has always been an enemy An eager partner coiled at my core Ready to leap and bite With the venom of human destiny. I will join hands with the misfits, the strangers Circling the pond of forgetting Kissing cheeks to bid farewell Tumbling together into the well of eternity. ©2026 Stephanie M. Vargo
A moving poem. Loneliness follows me home most evening and curls up on my couch.
Your poem resonated with me