Destination:Nowhere

by Karla   Jan 11, 2012


They had reduced him to percentage points:
his uniqueness didn't come out.
He had learnt obedience and control very well
and for the rest of his life.
Some would say he was a good citizen,
a man who succeeded in breaking out the economic class system.

Sometimes alone at home,
he looks back and thinks about people and the narrow ends.
What was written upon him?
What did he leave behind?

A dreamer sleeps in his acidic eyes,
a poet was entangled in his trembling hands.
He still kept his old poems with strange care.
Life had strayed like a lost suitcase in an airport
What was his destination?Nowhere.

How many things do we have to forget to become
who we are?
How many times do we have to survive ourselves?
What is the real price paid to be respectable
but unhappy?

Karla Bardanza

http://asmoonsewsthesatinstars.blogspot.com

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Latest Comments

  • 12 years ago

    by Ms Happiness

    This is awsome, I really agree its powerful:)

  • 12 years ago

    by Pain

    A very powerful poem indeed

  • 12 years ago

    by dollwithafrown

    I love this; I think especially because in comparison to other writing, this kind of thing is unwritten about, but so very familiar to those who are able to read it.

    It raises the question who is worse off; a lone artist who is sure of himself, his choices, his world and his surroundings - a person who may not have much, but is grounded and content. Or a man who has worked so hard for every aspect of his being, someone who knew riches and fine things, but was lost when it came to happiness and feelings and all the aspects of the world that make us feel human.

    "Sometimes alone at home,
    he looks back and thinks about people and the narrow ends.
    What was written upon him?
    What did he leave behind?"

    ^ This stanza in particular really tugged at the heart strings. I think because everyone thinks about this; what will be of them later in life, or when they're no longer around? Will they be remembered? Will they be loved?

    Your poem made me think; I really enjoyed it. :)

  • 12 years ago

    by Lioness

    I think this is a very powerful poem with a lot of meaning. This is how I read it.

    They had reduced him to percentage points:
    his uniqueness didn't come out.
    He had learnt obedience and control very well
    and for the rest of his life.
    Some would say he was a good citizen,
    a man who succeeded in breaking out the economic class system.
    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    To reduce someone down to a percentage point is like thinking that he is just another number in life.
    Rather than him being someone, a human, a man or a father or brother. He is left to nothing.

    Sometimes alone at home,
    he looks back and thinks about people and the narrow ends.
    What was written upon him?
    What did he leave behind?
    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    Don't we all think like this sometimes? Wondering what impact we've had on society and possibly the world?
    What he left behind - what he's given to the people.

    A dreamer sleeps in his acidic eyes,
    a poet was entangled in his trembling hands.
    He still kept his old poems with strange care.
    Life had strayed like a lost suitcase in an airport
    What was his destination?Nowhere.
    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    I like how you used the whole idea that he lost his suitcase in an airport.
    To me it's like when you hit a fork in the road and you don't know which way to go. I think using the airport is a more modern way of saying it. He could fly to anywhere but at the moment he is lost in life

    How many things do we have to forget to become
    who we are?
    How many times do we have to survive ourselves?
    What is the real price paid to be respectable
    but unhappy?
    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    I read this as though what we have to do to please others but in the end sometimes we are unhappy with our choices.
    We are not who we should be. Only trying to make others happy rather than ourselves.

    A very powerful poem indeed

    x

  • 12 years ago

    by Maple Tree

    This piece is a powerful one.... very descriptive, but it also leads the reader to ponder... love the metaphor's...and really an all around wonderful read.. well done~