Friday, September 14, 2012

How Much, How Many

I'm debating whether this needs a fourth stanza.  Let me know what you think.

How many things did you really want

before you were told to want them?
How many things did you really believe
before you were told to believe them?
What things did you hate and fear
before you were told to fear them?
And what things did you truly love
before you were told to love them?

How many things do you really know
and how many do you think you know?
How many do you say you know
when questioned so you look in the know?
How much do you choose to pretend;
how frequently and for what end?
How much of you is really for real
and much have you had to steal?

How much can you call your own?
How many things have you disowned
and replaced with what's novel or new?
How much of your story is really true?
How much of you is someone else?
How do you identify yourself?
How many times do you look in the mirror
and not recognize what you see there?
 
Copyright (C) 2012 by Eric Landuyt

1 comment:

  1. It's hard to think of what would be needed for a fourth stanza, so I'd go against it. This poem reminded me a lot of "Blowin' in the Wind," which I got a kick out of... seeing this set to music would be cool. The questions asked are thought-provoking, but I'd avoid rhyming any word with itself if I were you... makes the poem look lazy and doesn't flow off of the tongue that well.

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