The Invitation

I hadn't realized this festivity was a masquerade,

Until the friends I'd drank and been merry with,

Mirthfully shared and split my face with,

Raised their glasses, together, removed their masks,

And, amongst the mass, revealed strangers.

All recognition I thought I knew of a friendly face faded,

And, just as before, they asked to dance with me,

To the same songs to which they'd laughed with me.

Their hands are cold entwined with my own, against the flock, I am alone,

Then waltzing in gallant strides, a familiar face forgotten-

I'm swept away in his arms, its just he and I,

Gracefully to the melody this gentleman and I,

"I'm called Loneliness," he sighs near my ear so it is only I who hears.

The ballroom swells with all the sounds, the cadence of a distant din,

As I'm swayed against the chest of this Loneliness,

So tightly pressed, my breath is thin, as I dance with Loneliness,

He pursues with his sweet croons, "Come to my chateau where I, alone, can know you."

We continued 'round the room in circles, passing all the invitees,

The rhythm of the symphony giving way to see,

A flame-like light casting a glow upon the strangers,

Illuminating my memory of the masked strangers.

I see boys who once held my heart,

An old woman who'd held my hand,

A group of girls who had made me laugh,

A lone man that inspired a thought

I couldn't help the flow of tears as I wept for them all,

I, alone, at this masked ball.

With a gracious smile, Loneliness pulled away,

And, with a bow, he vanished,

I spent the remaining night amongst unknown,

When the night was done, I sat alone.

Here lies tomorrow's invitation, in which I behold,

"MASQUERADE," it reads atop in bold,

With realization I burst in tears for my losses multitude,

For that gallant man, without his mask, was none other than Solitude.