What it is I am
or have become
though maybe never was . . .
Looking back over time
only to see shadows
of all the things
I could have been
but wasn’t, all
the me’s I could
have made
but didn’t,
all the lives I
never lived
on roads not taken
by the me that
never was.
Having created this
me out of nothing,
just the shadow
of someone,
if you look away
for a moment
the shadow
of me is gone.
My words are
who I am –
the substance
to my shadow.
A contest entry
- what makes you a poet? by Lute.
5200 points, ended January 1, 69 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
-
What can anyone say, and be considered supportive?
I think we write what we know, and whether it's good or bad, it's what we are. Writing isn't fun. It's painful, tedious, frustrating, it impedes my eating, sleeping, otherwise normal ability to function. There's always been a sort of collection of poets at any given time I would turn to. I doubt any one of them ever considered me, sitting in my living room, crying painful tears all over their lovely words.
Don't think for a second your words don't have that effect for someone else. You never know what it might be that inspires someone. The willingness to risk all, to create your artistic expression, used to be a glamorous notion. I call it being an artist.
Blessings,
jin
-
I don't agree with your words here. You are everything anyone could be. You have accomplished so much - psychology, teaching, poetry, fatherhood... how can you feel you failed somehow?
Interestingly enough, I think we all feel this insecurity - no matter how successful we are. I once said to my therapist that I felt like such a failure - at everything in my entire life. She was shocked and said "How have you failed at anything? Look at all you do! I'm amazed you are able to constantly push yourself despite your setbacks."
So... though that helped, I still feel like you in those first few stanzas - what else could I have become?
I think it's a fascinating read and deep look into our darkest fears and insecurities. We all wonder if we took the wrong roads and made the wrong decisions.
I just can't imagine that you ever did.
-
I have a room full of "me's" I never was. And though they never were, each one of them that wasn't is everything I am.
I like this, as for myself, what winds up on the page, or I should say the screen really depends on who gets up in the morning. But then all my various "me's" are well known pieces of myself. I once wrote something titled
"Alice has a thousand hats" which would be almost akin to this idea I think.
Interesting as always.
-
SO many of us can say yes, we know this too. We are so many "me's", we become, we never are. Lovely thought-provoking poetry, Garrison.
~ Nicolette
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