Have you ever felt surrounded by people but completely alone? The poem “Drowning Soul” by Musema Edmond Vuni JR captures this exact feeling of profound isolation. This poignant piece is a deep dive into the heart of someone who longs for connection but is paralyzed by the fear of rejection.
DROWNING SOUL
In this vast expanse of loneliness
I sit, slurping at the sweet endearments
Whispered by the wind into my ears.
My heart is heavy, but not with grief.
Around me, I see illusions of reality.
The life that I have far withdrawn,
And that I should have projected in the joy of others. My soul is dead and needs a divine reckoning.
The blues soothe nothing by their melodies,
Except gap the existing vacuum of solitude.
My heart is a mere vessel, following nature’s orders;
Its chambers filled with blood and love unused.
I preach true love, and fear the dreading thought of it. I hate hate and yet can’t stand up against it.
The little joys that fill my heart
Grow, burst and disappear within me,
With only random smiles as excretion of their digestion.
I want to love, and loved be!
Yet, I sulk at the mere thought of mockery,
Like Cyclops, resign to myself,
Envying all through my two eyes—
The only advantage I hold over him.
MUSEMA EDMOND VUNI JR
Explanation of the Poem “Drowning Soul”
This poem “Drowning Soul” is about feeling very alone and stuck. The speaker is surrounded by life but feels completely separate from it, like an observer. Their heart is full of love that has nowhere to go, and even things like music can’t fix the empty space inside them. They describe their soul as “dead,” needing something powerful to wake it up again.
The speaker knows what they want—to love and be loved—but fear holds them back. They are afraid of being made fun of or rejected. So, they hide away with their feelings, like the mythical Cyclops in his cave. They end up watching others live happy lives, filled with envy, unable to join in because of their own fears.
About Musema Edmond Vuni Jr
Musema Edmond Vuni Jr is a registered and qualified teacher of literature and English language. His deep understanding of literary traditions is evident in this crafted poetic narrative, which uses allegory and sharp imagery to deliver a powerful commentary on the social and psychological barriers to human connection
