3. The rider by Naomi Shihab Nye

Can we outrun loneliness?

In The Rider, poet Naomi Shihab Nye seems to suggest that we can. Loneliness can be escaped. The rider, then, is you, me, and anyone who wants to escape this crushing feeling.

Loneliness, that most ubiquitous of emotions, goes from abstract to concrete in this conversational, free-verse poem. Loneliness gains a persona and if you leave it behind you can be a champion. The poet says that doing so is

“A victory! To leave your loneliness
panting behind you on some street corner
while you float free into a cloud of sudden azaleas”

Srividya Sivakumar brings this poem to life through her magical and compelling reading, accompanied by a short reflection on the poem.

Listen to it on The Poetic Pause, a podcast that explores the hidden life of poems, the joy they give us, the beauty they offer and the comfort they bestow.

Read the poem here: https://poets.org/poem/rider

Meet Srividya Sivakumar

Srividya Sivakumar is a critically acclaimed poet, TEDx speaker, teacher, and voiceover artist. She believes in using her voice to drive change, spark conversations, and encourage you to slow down.

QOTD

Can you recall a poem that delves into loneliness, like The Rider? Would you like to share it with us?

Write to us to be part of the conversation to make mental health cool – podcast@myndstories.com

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn