It knows loneliness as no man can learn;
For if one’s not with themselves acquainted,
And if they cannot with their soul discern,
Then connections with man must be tainted.
Shedding its skin, but nothing’s underneath,
Fated to steal other’s identities.
Starving for life, clenching its foreign teeth,
It strives to render its own entities.
It holds no truth, for what human can trust,
Existence in trick’ry and deception?
It owns nothing, and for nothing lusts,
Save for their own form and self perception.
Who could lament for the human pretend;
Who never had a beginning, nor end?
Author notes
For those who do not know, a doppelganger is a shape-shifter. More accurately it is a "ghostly double" of the person. It's a creature of the spirit-world that shape-shifts into the form of another living person- becoming a double. Stealing identities while the human is still alive usually causes confusion amongst people when bystanders swear they saw someone in one place, and others saw the same person in another place during the same time. To avoid this confusion and also the probability of being discovered, in many stories, they kill the human they are pretending to be so there is only one of them. Sometimes they are portrayed as shape-shifting with ease- their bodies morphing smoothly from one form to the other, but my favorite portrayal is that they painfully change from one form to the other... very snake-like- shedding it's skin and teeth to reveal the new form underneath. I suppose it's fitting that they should be referred to as snake-like because in all portrayels I've seen, they have reptile-like eyes... and even in an anime I watched, their "true form" was covered in lizard-like scales. Although- some portrayels show them wiith no true form at all.
Through different shows, movies, and stories I've recently read (for SOME examples you might recognize: Supernatural, Escaflowne, even Mystique on X-men is a similar sort of doppelganger), I have for some reason become fascinated with this mythological creature. Many times they are shown as evil for trying to steal the identities of others and using it as a stealth trick to sneak into or infiltrate a place. I tried to play psychologist and wondered what must go on inside their heads and thought of how lonely they must be. This poem can also be a metaphor about people who ACT like doppelgangers in this way. I leave it in the hands of the readers to decipher it however they so wish.
A contest entry
- This is your contest not mine, no restriction what so ever. by nerd42189.
550 points, ended October 23, 2007, 61 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Guaranteed Comments! by Nam.
425 points, ended October 23, 2007, 72 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Options Contest! Take a look by TheAshtrayGirl.
650 points, ended November 17, 2007, 55 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Parodies or Multisyllabic Rhyming (Prewrites Allowed) by aGent Lemon.
360 points, ended February 26, 2008, 6 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 22 of 22
-
I never heard of a shapeshifting doppleganger, but that doesn't matter... this does deem acceptable.
-
"It holds no truth, for what human can trust,
Existence in trick’ry and deception?"
I believe the second line is an enjambment of the first line: "for what human can trust existence in trick'ry and deception?" <-- that's an enjambment. A line/sentence that continues from one line, to the next. I could be wrong, I do not think I am.
"Who could lament for the human pretend;"
This doesn't read as one continuous line. To me, it reads like: "Who could lament; for the human pretend;" or "Who could lament — for the human pretend;". It's as if you're changing your thought within the line, which if that's what you're doing, then I think the em dash would work best.
Overall: Besides those two things, a good poem that you have written here.
-
Being removed. There were supposed to be 2 versions. I wanted to see the evolution of the write.
-
Being DQed, read the rules of my contest then re-enter
-
oh my....i'm always intrigued by the doppelganger and reading the substantial information about it in your author's notes is such a very enlightening one...moreover your poem captured the essence of a doppelganger especially in these lines..."Shedding its skin, but nothing’s underneath,
Fated to steal other’s identities..."
-
I've been educated!
thank u! for that history course I feel like I owe you some money or something!l.o.l.! this was a very good piece of writing!Good luck in the contest!
-
This isn't my idea of a doppleganger. Rather deep for my simple mind but I do admire your creativity here. Well done. Good luck
-
This is so eerie,nice expressive poem as followed an explaation
of what it means,thanks for sharing and good ALuck.mm -
Doppelganger? Thought this was a double/look alike most commonly perceived as an evil twin. This person walking as you do, or like glimpsing self but with no reflection like peripheral vision. The evil twin is ssupposed in folklaw to be able to plant ideas in a doubles mind and appear before relatives and friends to cause them confusion. mmm.never heard of shape shifter idea though, so live and learn?
Back to the poem, not something I've ever seen a poem written about maybe because of misconception; but your write generally fits in my understanding and has some good imagery too. Good write, but will you continue?
-
-
well... the reason why I thought it was an alternate universe that you can occasionally switch places with was because of a play in my senior student directed festival.. there were two sets of people playing their alternate selves and at certain points they'd switch places for a line, or facial expression and then move back to their own. In my class we had to do research for all the plays...
J~~~
-
-
I thought a doppelganger was your copy in an alternate universe that you occasionally can switch places with for seconds giving you that out of body experience...
but going by your description..
This was great! your descriptions were vivid painting out this tricky monster who wishes to steal from people!!
"It holds no truth, for what human can trust,
Existence in trick’ry and deception?"
J~~~ -
WAW! Something different and so strong. You used the same as I used in my recent novel for kids. A lot of great imaginary are used here and you did it the best way.
~Sonja~
-
A wonderful storyline you have presented, a bit dark, or eerie. Your rhyming is wonderful and it enhances the overall read, as does the flow very continuous....best wishes, Ken IBT
-
Ya gave me shivers....... brrrr..... Excellent. ~Pam
-
interesting bit of knowledge
I would have been at a bit of a loss without your explanation your poem left asking "what is it" then read your notes nicely done
**
-
A very different and refreshing piece of work. Beautifully written, a little mystic and dark. Provokes the mind leaving the reader to ponder. Excellent entry! Good luck in the contest.
I also thought the same has Legend...a doppleganger is known as a double-goer, the ghost of a living person..rather like an evil twin one's self.
Shaz xx
-
very deep...
...and mysterious as the thought of a doppelganger is one I have not had before. A new revelation for me and, as you say, a psychological challenge to anyone.
I like your form and I like your rhyme, which is normal for a sonnet, but yours has a flow and no force in it. Terrific poem.
-
I like that you have taken this subject and woven a poem around it (I wonder though is a doppelgagger a shape- shifter or as i was lead to believe is in fact a ghostly double of a person who haunts them) that is by the by I still love what you have done with this piece as has been already stated one would have loved to have read a little more As it really is a fascinating piece Thank you for entering Good luck in the contest
-
-
Thanks for pointing that out to me. I didn't describe the nature of a doppelganger well enough so I altered my authors notes in attempt to explain it better. You were right though... I forgot to add that they are not merely shape-shifters... they have more to them than that.
-
-
Mad. If you could expand on this, tie in some trippy philosophical aspects, this poem would be an absolute winner. As it stands, its still bloody good
-
-
Thank you- I'm so glad you liked this one because I was quite proud of it! I did write it in sonnet form so if I stick with that then there's not much room for expansion... but I do think that it could be a good idea to get more in depth with it and I'll definately look into possibly making it a longer and non-traditional sonnet Thanks for the suggestion!
-
-
That would be very wise and I would love to read it if you get round to it. Yes, you should be proud; a wonderful concept and poem.
-
-
Adding your comment:
1 - 22 of 22
