Poem of the Day: “orphan” by Ross Balcom, Frequent Contributor and Poet of the Week

Songs of Eretz Poetry Review is pleased to present “orphan” by Ross Balcom, a Songs of Eretz Frequent Contributor and this week’s Poet of the Week.  Mr. Balcom’s biography may be found in the “About Our Editor & Frequent Contributors” section.

orphan

Ross Balcom

drawn

to this lesser light

this lesser

world

its craters

and ragged mountains

its heart

stony as your own

no warmth

or solace offered 

no ocean

to enfold you

child

of the hardest truth

only orphans

walk the moon

Poet’s Notes:  This poem originated with its final stanza, which I borrowed from an earlier, unfinished poem of mine.  Here the moon serves as a symbol of emotional deprivation and desolation.