We move like water, seamless, clear,
no edge, no voice, no weight, no fear,
We fill the cracks, the cups, the roles,
A son, a friend, a pair of goals
Each day, we fit the sculpted cast
Of what the world has named our path
A scholar's mind, a lover's face
No self, just forms we must emulate
We talk about peace, cash, and fame
But none of us lit up the flame
But never ask ourselves what for?
We want the dream, but never act
Too scared to face what we all lack
Lack of motivation,
So we change what's always shown,
A borrowed goal we've never owned.
Our hands complete the destined chore
clock in, clock out, return for more,
A clog pre-shaped in a time machine,
Who learned to blend, but not to dream
I was inspired to write this poem by the feeling of losing individuality in a world that is constantly telling us who to be. I wanted to explore the idea of being shaped by external expectations from family, friends, and even partners. We often move through life filling in roles that people want us to fulfill rather than exploring who we want to be. The water metaphor came to me as a symbol of how we adapt and conform, flowing into whatever mold we’re given, often without questioning why. This isn't just a reflection but a collective one, a quiet shared experience many of us live through.
The literary devices and techniques I used were metaphors; the central metaphor of water represents fluidity and the loss of a fixed self. I also used anaphora and repetition; I repeated structures like “no edge, no voice, no weight, no fear” to create rhythm and reinforce the emptiness in the speaker's life. Lastly, contrast and irony; there’s an ironic tension between what society values, like peace, cash, and fame, and what individuals feel or pursue. The poem ends with questioning the truth of whether the ambition we have is valid or is just borrowed dreams.
"This is magnificent. I am in awe of it. This poem is by a silent watcher, a listener, a sufferer, a man who has become real. Very real. This poem spoke to me deeply. I am going to share it with all of my friends."
--SJ Guerra