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Open Poetry #24
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mirror man
Senior Member
since 2001-01-08
Posts 814


0 posted 2003-01-03 01:22 PM








this


What is this
man in the mirror
man in the mirror
man in the mirror
stuff?
What is that?

Is that who I am?
What, because I won't give my name
I must be this
this thing?!

Is that who I am?
Is that me?

Talk about
out of the mouths of babes,
this is not to be believed.
You want a name?
Here's one:
Sam.
Here's another:
Joe.
Here's another:
Frank.

Why not?
They're not any of my names,
that's true.
But they're all very good names.
And if I don't give you one,
you'll just make one up too.
So what's the difference?

And while we're at it,
here's my age, my IQ,
the color of my eyes,
my weight,
(oh sorry, you don't want to talk about that)
here's how long the really important thing is,
and here's the number of hairs on my behind.

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
To laugh at the preposterous, pretended credulity
of those who know better,
or to hate and lash out
at the despicable lie.

Either way,
it's vile, base,
evil treachery.
This thing!
is NOT ME!

Look what I've become,
a mutated blasphemy
of sneering statistics.

Look at me.

Oh Father in Heaven.
I know they know better.
Must I live all my life learning deceit?
Must I find so much hate?
so many lies?
Must I defend all my life
against the treachery of evil minds?
Is there so little humanity in me?

Oh God! my creator
Oh Jesus! my savior
Joseph and Mary
and all the saints!
is there no place for me
but this road to hell?

copyright 2002



[This message has been edited by mirror man (01-04-2003 06:28 AM).]

© Copyright 2003 mirror man - All Rights Reserved
passing shadows
Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577
displaced
1 posted 2003-01-03 01:26 PM


very strong write.

"I don't know whether to laugh or cry..."

there are different roads, yes.

ecrivan
Member Elite
since 2001-12-10
Posts 3923
my own state
2 posted 2003-01-03 03:51 PM


Okay I'll look more carefully into the mirror now for answers..hehe,
I like how you relate withholding your true identity..but then I think the poem spills
onto an equally important subject..like where on earth are we going.


inkedgoddess
Member Rara Avis
since 2002-11-19
Posts 7392
Ohio
3 posted 2003-01-03 07:16 PM


what did you do that was so bad?
mirror man
Senior Member
since 2001-01-08
Posts 814

4 posted 2003-01-03 08:59 PM


Since when is it you only must do something bad to be hated?  No, this how it is: you must not do anything too bad or too good.  Otherwise, you don't know your place and are no longer human.  
mirror man
Senior Member
since 2001-01-08
Posts 814

5 posted 2003-01-03 10:33 PM


Sorry.  Everyone.  I'm not mad at anyone, I'm just disgusted with the whole thing.  So I think it better if I don't say anything right now.

To answer your question, inkedgoddess, hate is not really interested in good or bad.  If it were, it would stop immediately in what it's doing.  Hate is also not really interested in truth or lies.  Truth and lies are just tools for hate.  All hate is really interested in is not feeling bad.  So anything that makes it feel good -- truth, lies, judgments of good and bad, anything at all -- become things for it to use to justify itself.  And if it can get you to believe in its hate also, that it's justified, then that makes it feel good and becomes just one more reason to continue the hate.  So anything goes.  It's not even interested in you when you agree with it.  All hate cares about is itself.

[This message has been edited by mirror man (01-03-2003 10:34 PM).]

ThisDiamond
Member Rara Avis
since 2002-02-22
Posts 9353
Michigan, USA
6 posted 2003-01-03 10:35 PM


Hopefully, we are looking into ourselves with more honesty...
This was intense, and very thought provoking...
Well done. ThisDiamond

garysgirl
Deputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 5 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Laureate
since 2002-09-29
Posts 19237
Florida, USA
7 posted 2003-01-03 10:42 PM


mirror man, this is a very thought provoking poem, yes it is............

"Love makes the world go around"
~~with love and hugs from Ethel~~  
                  

inkedgoddess
Member Rara Avis
since 2002-11-19
Posts 7392
Ohio
8 posted 2003-01-03 10:45 PM


i dont know,
mirrorguy,
im a lover, not a hater, cant relate,
thanks tho, for the explanation, altho, i dont quite get it....
but you write good, and its about poetry, isnt it?

BluesSerenade
Member Patricius
since 2001-10-23
Posts 10549
By the Seaside
9 posted 2003-01-04 12:50 PM


Go easy on yourself and whoever made you feel this way!!  

I liked your take just the same!!

ecrivan
Member Elite
since 2001-12-10
Posts 3923
my own state
10 posted 2003-01-04 01:10 AM


That hate cares about itself..I see your point, it thrives on maliciousness and deceit
or rather they contribute to it..one can also be good and still hated, that's true too
I pleased to see that you got these ideas out
Mirror man.Your poem inspired my write called "The Mirror", you're welcome to see


Salty
Senior Member
since 2002-11-23
Posts 669
Texas
11 posted 2003-01-04 02:16 AM


I was never allowed to say I hated anyone...My mother said that was to wish them dead. I sure despised at times though...thought I had good reason, but who knows.  I am not sure if you feel your hated or you feel the hate for someone else.
either way it's not a good feeling, but your poem sure works as a conversational piece.

~Salty

In the Midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you.
--Deepak Chop

mirror man
Senior Member
since 2001-01-08
Posts 814

12 posted 2003-01-04 09:22 AM


inkedgoddess -- yes, it is about poetry.  I guess I don't understand the question.  But it's also about people who play the destructive game of hurting and controlling other people.  

Salty -- I think you're confusing hate with anger.  To be angry with someone for hurting you is not to hate.  Also, to be angry at someone for hurting someone you love or care about is not hate.  However, to be angry at someone or to hurt someone who has done no harm is to hate.  And again, to be angry at someone or to hurt someone who is defending themselves, what is that?  And this of course assumes you can depend on your source of information to be honest.

You see how complicated it becomes.  Even the language is complicated.  You notice I say "to be angry at someone" instead of using just one word; we have no specific word for this in our language, or I can't think of it right now.  I used the word hate in my poem because of that.  I couldn't think of another word that means "to anger".  Even when we speak of truth and lies, you notice that the word truth is plural.  We have no word for "a truth", but only "a true thing".

[This message has been edited by mirror man (01-06-2003 05:12 AM).]

Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
13 posted 2003-01-04 10:38 AM


mirror man---An interesting poem, and discussion born from it.  Do you think if hate is talked about enough it will be diminished by understanding?

[This message has been edited by Martie (01-04-2003 11:04 AM).]

Midnitesun
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Member Empyrean
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647
Gaia
14 posted 2003-01-04 11:35 AM


and here's the number of hairs on my behind
*******************************************
LOL, now that is really much more than I want to know about you, mirror man.
Interesting write and discussion.
Enjoyed the reflective glimpse.

Seymour Tabin
Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720
Tamarac Fla
15 posted 2003-01-04 12:04 PM


mirror man
Well done, and the answer is in the question. Now ponder on that.

ecrivan
Member Elite
since 2001-12-10
Posts 3923
my own state
16 posted 2003-01-04 12:41 PM


I think by knowing that there is so much hate is recognizing the way you think and act
and learn how to cope with earthly 'Infernos'
to add to your last statement that there is no one word for something 'true' using the same root besides the word 'truth'.... there is the word 'principle' that comes to mind as something that reflects a true thing or a truth.

[This message has been edited by ecrivan (01-04-2003 12:43 PM).]

Gentle Spirit
Member Patricius
since 2000-10-09
Posts 13989

17 posted 2003-01-04 12:56 PM


A very intense write, I enjoyed the read.
winston
Member
since 2002-12-19
Posts 204
NW of Eden
18 posted 2003-01-04 01:13 PM


The "Self", the "Ego", the "Id", etc, seems to be the major human preoccupation. What is "Hate" without the "Self"?

An impressive poem. I also like black background to them - good effect!
Thanks.

"am a tourist not a terrorist, don't shoot, cause we are all on a journey to God" Michak

vandana
Deputy Moderator 5 Tours
Member Patricius
since 1999-10-22
Posts 10463
USA
19 posted 2003-01-04 07:55 PM


enjoy
inkedgoddess
Member Rara Avis
since 2002-11-19
Posts 7392
Ohio
20 posted 2003-01-04 07:57 PM


mirrorboy,  just be into love, dont hate anyone, dont even use the word, and it wont exist..
you think too much, dont dwell, feel the floyd, let it pass, really, dont let the bitches get u down,
you do write well tho, keep it flowing

[This message has been edited by inkedgoddess (01-04-2003 09:56 PM).]

mirror man
Senior Member
since 2001-01-08
Posts 814

21 posted 2003-01-14 12:26 PM


To anyone reading this -- I think I'll let "mirrorboy" speak for itself.  But I would like to know when boys became insults.  Not that I think boys are insults.

Sure, and it's not meant to be an insult.
And I'm Abraham Lincoln.

    
Anway, this poem is about a particularly vicious game of social control.  It's called "Tell Me What I Want To Know or I'll Make Up Some Slanderous Lie."  I became reacquainted with this game recently by an unknown woman (no one with that user name at PIP, btw), who proded me by email for trivial personal information until, not getting what she wanted, implied I must be Elephant Man.  She also had an accomplice (also no one with the user name at PIP) who asked me to critique a poem of his which was in an attachment which contained a virus.

     And while I'm sure it's no great shakes in the psychology department, these kinds of destructive games having been known for years, one does wonder what this has to do with poetry.

     Enough said.

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