THE EMPTY CHAIR
A view without a scene
A play missing the lead actor
A movie searching for the script
Chairs at a table for two less one
Sharing with ones self is never really sharing
Experience digested alone results in bile
Single or singular are things dismissed
One is the loneliness number and wanting to be
The heart beats one at a time but many by minute
A rhythm starts with a single beat
Joined by others to form a chorus
Improvising in order to lead others to believe
Musical chairs always leaves one without
A purpose without cause or desire
Cause missing the action it invokes
A leader preaching to an empty congregation
Being in love will always require another
Selfish wishes filled only by one
A chair for one or anyone to enjoy
Dreaming to fill, the other in hopes of
Loving a landscape or dreamscape or the lure
Without occupying the chair, reason is lost
Loving to fill your heart or the empty chair
Fulfilling a void of empty heart or house
A chair occupied by body, soul, or just love, is filled
robat47
I think the first three lines were great, evocative and well placed. I think they show the poet has great potencial and sensitivity. However, as the poem went on I felt an air of sentimentality took away from the piece. It's up to you - and of course it's all opinion, but using those first 3 lines as a yardstick I would try and strip down the poem, perhaps losing as much as half of it, but trying to develop those three lines further with much of what you already have. It'll be hard work, but I do think it is very much worth it because, of, as I say, those first few lines.