Saturday, October 2, 2010

It is I

OH THE INVISIBLE MAN!
HE'S THE GOODEST MAN YOU NEVER SAW!
HE IS HERE EVERY DAY
HE DOES HIS CHORES. IN EVERY WAY
HE'S AS GOOD AS ARY ONE YOU KNOW
AND YET SEE HIM? I' TROW,
SEE HIM, YOU NEVER CAN.
AIN'T HE A' AWFUL GOOD INVISIBLE MAN?
INVISIBLE, INVISIBLE, INVISIBLE MAN.


I'VE SERVED MY BEST IN EVERY WAY
GAVE MY KIDS MY LIFE EVERY DAY
TO THEM I'VE BEEN AWFULLY GOOD
YET TO DATE I'VE NEVER UNDERSTOOD
WHY? EVEN TO THEM I CAN'T BE SEEN
WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH ME 'N
THE THINGS I KNOW? SEE ME?
THEY NEVER CAN.
I'M THE INVISIBLE, INVISIBLE MAN.

I DEVOTED MY LIFE TO A CAREER
THE YOUNGSTERS I ATTEMPTED TO STEER
INTO THE PATHWAYS THEY SHOULD GO
BUT NOW THERE'S SCARCE A ONE I KNOW
WHO SEES ME WHEN I PASS HIM ON THE STREET
I SHUFFLE ALONG ON TIRED FEET
AND WISH A SMILE WOULD SHINE MY WAY,
BUT NO, NOT HAPPENIN' TODAY.
IT'S WHO I AM: THE INVISIBLE, INVISIBLE MAN.


WHOA! YOU SHUFFLIN' OL' INVISIBLE MAN
INVISIBLE, INVISIBLE, INVISIBLE MAN!
DID I HEAR SOMEONE CALL?
NO, NO, NO NOT AT ALL
IT'S MERELY WIND AHOWLIN'
OR ENTS OR ELVES OR SQUIDGICUMBAWLIN'
AS EVER, AS EVER INVISIBLE MAN
CAN'T BE SEEN BY ANYONE IN THE LAN'.
THAT LONELY OL' BONEY OL' INVISIBLE MAN
--
WITH INSINCERE APOLOGIES TO J.W.RILEY AND TO H.G. WELLS

I suspect that all people have times in which feelings such as these creep into their lives. It is part of the human condition to feel alone, lonely or ignored on occasion.

Yet I know that this too shall pass. In truth I have a huge, loving family and many, many friends. They all have lives, too. And it is a busy world in which we live. There are often near-overwhelming responsibilities. A kind and loving word could lift a friend of yours; just let them know they haven't been forgotten.

And above it all, we are held in the loving hand of our Heavenly Father, who will never leave us, nor yet forsake us. Hebrews 13:5, John 14:18
© 2010 David W. Lacy

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Have never read this before, but can to relate to it. Haven't we all felt this way on occasion, I know this is also felt by the women folk who never get the credit they deserve by being loving
devoted wives.

Lin said...

Uh oh, you hit a nerve today.

I have so little time now that I haven't been able to keep up with some of my old friendships. I was better back in the day when I didn't work, and now I just don't have the hours or the inclination to get on the phone when I get home.

Do I feel guilty about this?? Yep. A TON! But I can't do it all for everyone and I have to think of my own sanity and stress first and foremost. I'm not sure what the answer is.

Sharkbytes (TM) said...

Hey, we like you. Don't go gettin' invisible on us.

vanilla said...

Anon-- Guess I was in a "mood" when I wrote that. We all need to know that we are recognized and appreciated for who we are.

Lin-- I, too, need to be better at letting my friends know I care. Years ago, as I was leaving after a visit to my Dad, I said, You could call from time to time, you know. He replied, Phone line runs both directions.

Shark-- Thank you. Seriously, I appreciate that.