Sometimes I feel like an island in the vast ocean of life, a stranger in my own land, an alien* in my own street...Like a Martian from outer space....


Longing to Belong

I know, I must not say it,
Lest, I go and betray it,
But my heart has this longing,
A desire of belonging,
To someone, to some place...

While I am like an island
In a vast Ocean-space;
An outsider in my own land,
Isolated and apart,
On fringe of humanity,
Standing
On the precipice of life,
Ready to plunge into an abyss
Of pit less eternity,
Never ending,
Ever expanding,
Not knowing where it ends
The quest for the unknown,
The unknown?
Which probably
Does not exist...

While I drift and rift,
In a vacuum afloat...
Restless, unrequited...
In a world all my own...


Author: Zoya Zaidi
Aligarh (UP),India
Copyright©: Zoya Zaidi


*Dedication: I dedicate this poem to my beloved and talented friend Aliena, who still feels the anguish of an alien (Alien-a) in a land, she has made her home even after twenty years of living there...Anna, may be it will be of some consolation for you to know that even in one's own land one can feel an alien...that it is better to be a stranger in a foreign land then to be a foreigner in your own land....




Poetry by Zoya Zaidi
Read 669 times
Written on 2006-01-25 at 05:46

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Julie Zerbe
In deference to this beautiful write, I must say I feel the same feelings. Getting close to belonging, only to find out it's snatched away and leaving you longing again. And don't we really wonder if saying it jinxes our chances?
Think I will bookmark this one. Lovely.
2006-07-14


Teala
I can identify with this poem--I have never fit in--and don't think I will ever.
2006-02-22



:))) Yes, i've finally found this beautiful, beautiful poem... Zoya, in the vast, dark and empty space of existence, in which it always has been (and always will be) my fate to float around, you are one of these luminous, green planets with plenty of clean water and a friendly atmosphere. Thank you, dearest friend, from the deepest of an alien heart!
2006-02-03


Natalie
I really like this :) Great :D
2006-01-25


penfold18
An excellent expression of this feeling, well done Zoya :-))
2006-01-25


liz munro The PoetBay support member heart!
your poem almost made me cry.
I think sometimes that what causes a lot of the problems because we are trying to hard to belong and 'fit' in
Liz.
2006-01-25


Veld Cooper
Yes, dear Zoya, the need to belong is one of the strongest we poor creatures have. And often when we do, the Gods ensure it doesn't last!
2006-01-25