The Vain Pursuit of Acceptance
We dissipate prodigious amounts of energy
In seeking validation from our fellow men
A primal urge to escape predation
From our forebears in ancient times, when
Our ancestors roamed the earth in bands
And danger lurked around every bend
But solace can be found in understanding
That rejection is an inevitable end
When we accept this as our fate
We can release our inner turmoil and strife
And in embracing our potential to look foolish
We find true power, and a meaningful life
Thus let us not waste our vitality
In the vain pursuit of acceptance, but find serenity.
About this poem
The sonnet, "The Vain Pursuit of Acceptance," is a thought-provoking exploration of the human tendency to seek validation from others, and the impact that this can have on our lives. The sonnet employs a complex vocabulary, with words such as "dissipate," "prodigious," and "predation," to create an elegant and sophisticated tone. The metaphor of our ancestors roaming the earth in bands and facing danger, serves to underscore the primal nature of the urge to seek validation from others. The poem moves from the negative effects of this pursuit to the positive effects of accepting rejection as an inevitable end. The rhyme scheme is consistent throughout the sonnet and it adds to the overall aesthetic of the poem. The final couplet delivers the key message of the poem, which is to not waste our vitality in the vain pursuit of acceptance, but to find serenity. The sonnet delivers a powerful message and skillfully uses complex vocabulary to create an elegant and sophisticated tone. more »
Written on November 04, 2017
Submitted by Mawphniang.Napoleon on January 20, 2023
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 30 sec read
- 7 Views
Quick analysis:
| Scheme | ABXB XCXC XDXD AA |
|---|---|
| Closest metre | Iambic hexameter |
| Characters | 569 |
| Words | 102 |
| Stanzas | 4 |
| Stanza Lengths | 4, 4, 4, 2 |
3 fans
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"The Vain Pursuit of Acceptance" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/149068/the-vain-pursuit-of-acceptance>.
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