Here I am, for all the world to see.
Fear me, as you would fear that which would cause your lives to end.
I am the greatest and the least, here with you all.
You should all know who I am.
You see me everyday.
I walk past you, in the hall, staring at your face, thinking absent thoughts about you, not even knowing your name.
I'm the guy that came to your house that night.
I got drunk, and hit on your sister.
I even slept with her.
The next morning, I forgot all about it, and went home.
Sure, she was pregnant, but I wasn't thinking about that.
It's not MY problem.
Is it?
I'm that girl in your art class, drawing the bunnies.
I love how all my friends say I'm such a good artist.
With my stick figures and simplistic lines.
Sure, there's Van Gogh, but come on!
Who was the one who got voted for class president here?
It's not like I'll ever need talent.
Right?
I'm the old man that sits out in front of the supermarket.
Shut up, don't you talk down to me.
I served in a war!
I know what we were fighting for!
At least, I think I do...
Not like it matters anyway!
Even though I'm just a bum, you should show me some respect!
Right?
I am you.
We walk together.
We talk.
We speak about things that we don't understand.
We believe in the media, in the hype, and in the lies.
It doesn't matter to us anyway, right?
All we want to do is live, and die.
It's not like we care who else gets in our way.
That's why we do things only for ourselves, right?
I don't know.
I don't care.
Apathy and Ignorance.
Can't you see me?
Author notes
It's... well, it's partly my thoughts on apathy and ignorance. How I feel about people who don't care about the world, who don't know anything but act like they do anyway.
It's how I feel about the jerks that have let me down in life, the one's who talk to me like they know more, like they actually have some semblance of rational thought.
I hope you understand. -Dan
Written December 20th, 2005
What did you think
Comments
1 - 36 of 36
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this kind of makes you think i say good job
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Good work
I really liked this, as did the rest of AP it seems . I think that the most effective line for me was the "I am you" stanza after the buildup up the reader's disgust with the various characters you portrayed. It was a quite shocking and true realization of what apathy and ignorance make us. I am glad you had the bravery to criticize an army vetern, you showed very clearly that we should not rest solely on old medals and what we once were, but continue the good fight.
I didn't really like the final line, "can't you see me", because you just flashed all those effective images before me, and it seemed redundant and anticlimatic to ask a question with such an obvious answer. On top of that, the title already told us what to look for. I thought that the stanzas really spoke for themselves. You did a really good jod of showing clear images of the abstract in the reader's mind.
Good job all around. -
Invigorating!
Very invigorating read here! Well done! I couldn't agree with you more. There's too much apathy and ignorance in the world today, more so it seems now, than at any other time in history. Could be due to the population explosion; more people, more problems, more whiners. I get so tired of all the whining for change and yet those who whine the loudest rarely do much, if anything to help bring change about. I've discovered that they're too busy pointing fingers at everyone else, judging, and then they have neither the time nor the energy to evoke any amount of change. Even baby steps matter. And, I want to say I'm sorry to hear that some people let you down in life and I don't appreciate the way they seem to treat you. You caught me off-guard here because I suddenly saw myself, years earlier. I'd like to share how I've handled this very similar situation, with the understanding that my experience(s) might become somewhat of a guiding force for you in dealing with those who have let you down. After I'm done, you can yell at me, delete me, whatever you want, but I feel compelled to share with you. I sense an awful lot of anger in you, even resentment, and that's exactly how I felt for the longest time. I ended up getting sick due to all the pent up anger. Understand that, for many encounters, I was in the right, but not always. I got to where I nearly lost my ability to discern. I had let these people, friends and relatives and others, get under my skin for the longest time, until I took a long, hard look at myself. Without realizing such, I had traveled my own path, set my own pace, worked it out, and was hauling . . . I had some worthy years behind me. Before I knew it, I discovered there were people who felt that I, myself, had let them down in some way or another, in some form or another. We could call it a "difference of opinion," but what worked best was calling it a "difference of perception." That didn't mean I was wrong about all of it, but, in learning to be true to myself, I uncovered words spoken in haste; times where I said, "I'll do it tomorrow," and then tomorrow came and I kept pushing that calendar until it never was done, or at least it was never done by me. I was impervious to anything I might have done wrong until I took a long, hard look at myself. I discovered that we all make mistakes, that perfection doesn't exist; that I've hurt the feelings of others, both, without knowing and with knowing as often as my own feelings had been hurt. More importantly; I was the only person who could let "me" down. Only me. I decided to let go of most of my angst--I still defend the underdog! LOL! And, I've got quite a ways to go to get a solid handle on this horrible temper of mine--and I let everyone off the hook, just let it go, and then I started from scratch. I've made too many mistakes on my own throughout my life and I sure didn't need to be carrying the weight of all the other mistakes made by family and friends, even if some had, in fact, been directed at me. That load was too heavy and I'm not picking it up again. Besides, I unloaded on others too, so I dropped it. Oddly enough, things managed to work out. Relationships emerged where I thought it would be a "cold day in hell" before I saw that happen. But, I needed to change myself first and foremost. I'm not going to fluff this with promises that everything becomes rosy when and if you choose this route because it doesn't. Those people who didn't want to look at themselves and continued to carry on with ruthless indifference just didn't see or hear from me anymore. That's it. But, I made it clear that my door was always open should a change of heart come about. I just didn't look at things the same once I looked at myself, once I truly saw myself. I'm no longer a bitter person. I'm just choosing not to listen to the whiners who are buried in apathy and ignorance. I don't hate them. They're just lost, but that's no longer my problem. I've got to make sure I keep a grip on myself and that keeps me pretty busy. LOL! I hope I didn't overstep my boundaries here, and that you understand that I absolutely do agree with you and I support this powerful write. And look what you did! I was supposed to get an article written, but have been blank, and now . . . I've got my article now.
Thank you! Don't worry, you won't be in it, unless you want to be. The first section can be generic. But, you do get credit for unlocking my brain and letting those waves flow. LOL! Take care and don't let them get you down. Love, light and peace sent your way!--Kel 
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We sure can see these people in our midst - they are everywhere, doing damage and thinking not of others, only themselves. What can we do to make them see that the rest of us have feelings, get hurt and deserve respect?
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this is my favorite poem out of the ones i've read so far on allpoetry.
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this is great! the multiple points of view.. and that one shouldn't put labels on people.
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This was great. I love how you showed all different points of view, when it all revolved around one thing- the ignorance. (and apathy) yeah anyway, everyone with common sense understands you aren't meaning to insult anyone, that you were just writing a poem, and bringing out the meaning. If anyone puts you down for writing this poem, they are dumbasses. I've seen this happen to me, and other people. ANYWAY peace out and good poem.
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BRILLIANCE!!!
"I am you.
We walk together.
We talk.
We speak about things that we don't understand.
We believe in the media, in the hype, and in the lies.
It doesn't matter to us anyway, right?
All we want to do is live, and die.
It's not like we care who else gets in our way.
That's why we do things only for ourselves, right?"
i like that part, and your ending best, but you've written the whole thing fantastically! admiratin to the max!!! well done, from Closet
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I loved the lines:
"I'm the old man that sits out in front of the supermarket.
Shut up, don't you talk down to me.
I served in a war!
I know what we were fighting for!"
I also liked the ending especailly.
This poem strikes out to everyone, which makes for a very nice audience (even the people it offends). -
Woah, people keep promoting my poem!
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Very good
Ah, very good, but careful careful. Placing labels upon people is a dangerous mission. Your bum just might deserve respect and though the girl in art class cannot draw she seems to have people skills in excess. This little boat we find ourselves in is best crewed with love and affection.
That said, there are a few dumbasses out there. Well written poem with a very clear point. I commend you. -
yes, you raised a very valid point. people often try to be detached from others...non-involvement is thought to be the key to problem avoidance...more and more adopt this...and what you see around us is the result...
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Awesome.
I think that this was an excellent poem. It was full of emotion, and it seems like every other poem that looks into other people's thoughts, but I felt more than normal. It showed a bit of the deeper, darker thoughts of mankind.
I absolutly -loved- the third stanza! It's such a common problem, btu it's still tragic and devistating.
"It's not MY problem.", I felt that line so deeply, it was very powerful. -
interesting. creative. different. a bit long, but not too long. overall, a good job with writing this. enjoyed. was worth the read.
blu -
wonderful poem, great title too it was the first thing that caught my eye. absolutely wonderful. i liked the part after each stanza where it asked a question, as if the reader was just expected to agree with everything said. i loved it
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wow, this makes you think, im amazed at the way you wrote this piece, it brings to light some things we dont always think about
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ha ha haha haha! infinitely excellent! I loved this piece. The description within it was great, and to top it off, it was about my favorite subject. Apathy is the Key. IM me if you want to talk. other than that, great work.
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Great
Very dynamic poem. At the end of every stanza I felt the need to hang back and soak it all in. You have done an great job! -
The next morning, I forgot all about it, and went home.
Sure, she was pregnant, but I wasn't thinking about that.
very emotional and heartfelt, i definetly felt your poem. the title was also beautifully chosen and very apt to your content. amazing piece...very original as well i must say!!
keep penning and good luck...this was really really good!
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This is amazing... Very powerful and emotion-filled. I love it when people write about such strong feelings... Great write! I love it!
God Bless*
RLL -
Some deep truths written about in this poem, how we so often ignore all those who are different than us, those we skim over without really seeing, just glancce at and go on. We are apathetic, we are so used to seeing death on tv for some it's the same as watching a violent show, means nothing more, nothing less. We are ignorant, ignoring that which is right in front of us, and being obnoxious, with the couldn't care less attitude we are not going anywhere quickly. good write.
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YES! And it takes a poem and a good eye from a stranger to point these things out to me. Bravo! (standing ovation)
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I love poems on Ignorance, its something everyone has. Although some have more then others, isnt it funny how we dont have to train ourselves to be ignorant? It seems to be a common trait all people are born with, and it takes lifetimes to banish it. I wish more people realized this. Keep on writing.
Blessed be,
LeFay -
Very true!! Well done!
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This is very true! Try to get it published, ahnd this poem out at street corners, I don't care! Just get this poem to the world! The world needs to read this! It was amazing! Good write!
Blessed Be, Chelsea -
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!
There was a very good choice of words here. The description was amazing. It was really superb. It was fun to read. You can really write well. This was a reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyy Lovely poem. It flows very well. I really had fun reading it. Kudos, my friend. You should consider getting published.
The poem was extremely thought provoking. I really found it a masterpiece. This is one of the better poems I have seen in recent times.
Keep writing. You are a good poet. You have a very good style, and you are a powerful writer. God bless you and good luck!
~Komal -
this was really interesting and original. enjoyed it from start to end. really nice job with writing this. and its sad but true. as most things are. ( sadly enough ). was worth the read. enjoyed.
blu -
I am stunned and awed by this work my friend! It is quite true and you portrayed Apathy and Ignorance in such a way that it feels like when someone reads it that something just flew out and hit them. We see this everyday and yet most are too blind to recognize it. Well done!
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wowza....thats hard hit...damn its so true.....great poem great emoution great poem
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*huggles* i understand dan-san! ^_^ great piece. i loved it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~luv joei -
great!
This is an excellent poem and i can really understand where your coming from. The best poem i've read about this subject. The examples you gave too were just perfect as everybody can imagine them or have met people like that. Brilliant! -
AMAZING
This is definitly the BEST poem I have read in a long time, the talent in those words, I'm curious do you know those poeple that wrote about or are they just made up, I know it doen't really matter but I'm nosy, anyway I'm starting to ramble on, so I shall shut up, great write, keep it up, love Romanee, xx -
oh my goodness!! this is fantastic!!! the title fits it so well. it kind of reminds me of a song i know called "We" about how nobody really knows or cares about who some people are inside, even though we're really all the same... really. that's amazing. i LOVE IT!!!
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Excellent
I loved this peice - great job - keep up the great work!!!!! -
Oooh, this is marvellous! I know exactly what you mean - I see those kinds of people indulging in shitty ignorance and apathy every day, seems to be most of what the world around us is made of. People just dont care anymore, or if they do then only for themselves... and then get stressed when people don't recognise their supposed brilliance or care when THEY'RE let down. *shakes fist* I love the way you wrote this, and the message you convey. Kudos. x
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