Real

Joe Strickland 1986 (Hobbysville, SC)



Real,
The word that stifles imagination,
That constricts
And confines us
To mundanity.
A word
That negates the possibility
Of dreaming
And exploring
Beyond what's seen.
What is real
But a limiting label?
A dubious denotation
That cages us in?
How can something
Be real
If it's subjective
And varies
From person to person?
Real,
A word
That's used to discredit
Anything
That seems beyond
The norm.
A bane
In the hands
Of the uninspired
Who seek to squash creativity
And form.
Real,
A term
That devalues magic
And discounts
The intangible
Beauty of the world.
A word devoid of possibility
And hope,
A concept
Too confining
For the true meaning.
Seekers.
Real
Is the worst word
In the lexicon
It dismisses the imagination
Which is the true essence
Of being human
And robs us
Of the power of creation.  
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Written on May 29, 2023

Submitted by JoeStrickland on May 29, 2023

55 sec read
15

Quick analysis:

Scheme AbccdDdeefagbheaicbADdedjkcddjAlmcgddndeecAdobcbcb
Closest metre Iambic dimeter
Characters 830
Words 181
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 50

Joe Strickland

I'm just a regular, blue collar, working stiff who took an interest in writing poetry many years ago but until recently I haven't had a desire to share any with anyone or pursue publication. I'm an unpublished fork lift operator by night, and a day drinker by choice. I can be followed on Twitter @JoeStricklandSC more…

All Joe Strickland poems | Joe Strickland Books

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Discuss the poem Real with the community...

1 Comment
  • lovingempath
    I wish I still had access to the spectrum of colorful pills I used to take 50 years ago to escape my own 'reality'. With a little help...there was no 'real' anymore: Everything was subject to the interpretation of a youngster experimenting with life, and drugs. they also, periodically served the purpose of 'spiritual enema' a little later in life. It's been decades, and I could sure use just one more 'spiritual enema'. But alas...I'm stuck in a world, trying to decipher what is really 'real' and what just might be evil in disguise. 
    LikeReply 111 months ago

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"Real" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/160381/real>.

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