Interminably Lonely

They tiptoed round him,
Like he might break if they got too close,
They neither touched,nor spoke with him.
What would they say?
What would he do if their words were wrong?
They’d all heard the rumours;
A crazy man,
Unhinged and suicidal,
Dangerous…
He sat,
Sucking mints,
Grateful of the peace
But bitter that a long ago diagnosis
Shackled him interminably.