The Accidental Recluse

The envious admiration of
those whose eager enterprise,
endurance, intelligence
and wit could not match hers
was never the motivating
factor in her unerring drive
to realize success. Comparing
herself to no one else, her
competition was simply herself.

She ruled the airwaves with
her speaking style, her breadth
of knowledge and her inimitably
admirable probing questions, drawing
out her celebrated guests, to inform
her broad-based listening public.
Her salary grew commensurately
with her ratings and reputation.

Her public persona edged out of
contention even her private self
until what remained was a veritable
faint whiff, that nonetheless, her
faithful and only companion
cleaved to, with affecting love.
That 'significant other' a trusting
canine friend waiting patiently her
arrival home from studio time.

The private person of such faint
heft who lingered hesitantly in the
shadow of the busily engaged public
figure of instant social recognition;
a lonely spirit rambling about in her
quiet, well-appointed home; no
intimates, no family, no alternate
interests; acclaimed and alone.