The day the walls closed in.

Fantastic. I'm so glad this won! I read it yesterday, and chose to sit on it for a bit before commenting. And wow. It hits harder the second time. "you compliment my life as we wake day to day but I can't be you, our minds can't merge into one" I really felt this in my bones. It's a startling thing to realize, that as close as you are to your other half, it's impossible to truly fully know and understand them, no matter how close you can get, some more than others. This is a fear that I think we all have, but some can acknowledge it more elegantly, like you do here. Thank you for writing this. It's a nice irony that sharing your fear can make it seem smaller, at least a little.

Great poem, the ending was especially poignant. Well done on the win!

Congrats Lamar. Well deserved.

Congrats, Lamar! 🥇🥂

YESSSSS I loved this! We do die alone and come into the world alone. We are all we have. So well said! 🖤

This is stunning, my friend! Really stunning. I love how relatable it is and how it made me think. Fear of dying and especially dying alone, is one of those profoundly human things. Each word is where it should be! Love it!

Beautifully written & profound!

This is awesome. Just wonderfully written and thought provoking. Well done.

Lamar, this was relatable, intense and thought provoking! You make a compelling argument for being afraid of the end! This was well written and had a great flow to it! Nicely done!

Lamar, this is wonderfully written!!! Loving it!!!

I have that fear. This is really brilliant. I think a life well lived is more prepared to pass over than the one that still yearns for more.

This is a fear for many, but you put it so succinctly in your poem. This is my favorite I’ve read so far for the challenge. It reminds me of the conversation I had last night with a new friend. I was saying the most common human fear is to be alone—not even just to die alone, but to be alone. Yet, anyone who has gone through a powerful transformation had to do it alone, like the caterpillar that must be cocooned. They are not alone forever, it’s a phase. A phase many resist. So they never become a butterfly at all. Reading your poem this morning made me think about how death is just another transformation before we soar. We die alone, but I don’t believe we’re alone on the other side.

We come into the world with nothing and we leave the world with nothing. Life is an illusion and we're all delusional. Loved your poem so much!

This makes me think of Ovid's story of Baucis & Philemon who are granted their wish that they might die together when the time came by Zeus to whom they had shown great hospitality (along with Hermes). At the end of their lives they were transformed into intertwining trees, one oak, the other linden. The thought of dying alone is terrifying to many. At my first appointment, I was told that a prominent citizen of the town was not expected to last the night & that he had always feared he would die alone. Various of us from all different denominations & backgrounds held vigil, taking turns all through the day & night, that he might never be left alone. But he didn't die that night, nor the next. As a matter of fact, he continued for several months in the hospital. I became convinced that, even though he was noncommunicative, he had changed his mind & could not bring himself to leave while there was still company in the room. Indeed, that's precisely what happened. The nurse had only left the room for a few minutes while no one else was there. That's when he slipped away.

Time is the one thing we cant escape unfortunately. it is definitely frightening to think about how life is just flowing towards the inevitable end for each of us... but as long as we enjoy life, and accomplish what we set out to do, it should be worth it. The fear of death is a great motivator for humanity to progress. I think age changes environment, and environment changes interests.. which will hopefully changes our view in life... for example, when i was younger, i wanted to get older to do things only adults did, and now i sometimes yearn for childhood, with no responsibilities and an easier life.. all I'm saying is, age changes our perspective, and hopefully our fear of it dissipates. Great poem, and it highlights the fear really well in a beautiful and subtle way.

I love this, Lamar! 💙👏✍️💙

It's amazing how much relationships and the lapse of time can teach us. This is masterfully written, encouraging, but harrowing too... to think all this love is for naught at the end. Painful, and amazing! This is an awesome poem.

Wow that was breathtaking. Beautiful Lamar ♥️

Very moving and evocative, Lamar. Never fear admitting to a fear. We all have them.

Ooo this is a fear I recognize all too well! Amazing job.