if you begin to dislike people
finding stains and dirt and freckles on the face of another
if you do not like to listen to what they want to say
if you find a list of mistakes and you say they ought not to be forgiven
if you like to be with yourself as though the world is one indifferent shape
if you begin to hate and keep things to yourself like you are an alien
then, you are not ready yet for solitude
you still suffer, you have embraced the loneliness
you are still a shadow hiding in darkness
in the alienation of the self
you have inflicted the cruelty upon humanity even if you are not there yet
RIC S. BASTASA
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/are-you-ready-for-solitude/
