I Wrote A Poem

[kerravonsen]

Empty Vessels

It screams at us "Go out and buy"
Until our goods will reach the sky
We never even wonder why
Or where our money went;
The song of discontent.

It swears ambition is the best
And only competition's blessed
And you must rise above the rest
Spend all in your ascent;
The song of discontent.

Relaxation's always lazy
Satisfaction must be crazy
We must never take it easy
For rest is time misspent;
The song of discontent.

It looks at a half-empty glass
Says over there is greener grass
Insists our gold is only brass
And we must now lament;
The song of discontent.

---

(Because I am sick of feeling defensive about my lack of ambition.)

Comments

[watervole]

That's really good. I like the use of rhyme and scansion, and also the sentiment.

Ambition is not that important. Why should we not be happy with what we do well? Why seek to always have more when we have enough to content us?

[kittylefish.livejournal.com]

i love it! and i have never had much 'ambition' either, except to develop myself as a human being. i remember saying a couple of decades ago that i was not a 'careerist.' this was back when i lived in nyc, so it was even more radical of a stance, lol. and then clarified that all i wanted was to be a 'right-on, self-actualizing woman,' lol.

you are so talented and accomplished, you should never feel like you have to defend your life choices to anybody. <3

[dreamflower]

A wonderful poem, it hits the mark square on the bull's eye. It's hard in today's society to be contented.

So much of what we think we want is manipulated onto us by people who make an art of manipulating.

I wish people would make a habit of asking themselves: "Do I really want that or does someone else want me to want it?" and the companion question: "Why do they want me to want it?" Because usually the answer to the latter question is "money" or "power" or both.

But real contentment comes from knowing what's in your heart is secure, no matter what is going on in the material world. Something you clearly do know, and good for you.

[sallymn.livejournal.com]

I don't feel defensive or guilty at all - I have all I need, and don't need the extra work involved to get more :)

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

Wow, what a great poem!!!!

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

That's excellent.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

This is one of those things that makes me wish LJ had a "like" button. This is so spot on.

I remember in grade school long ago (when we were learning to recognize advertising for what it is and not fall for it) that the purpose of advertising is "to create a need, and then fill it."

Rec

[livejournal.livejournal.com]

User dreamflower02 referenced to your post from Rec (http://dreamflower02.livejournal.com/655491.html) saying: [...] wrote a really thought-provoking poem: http://kerravonsen.livejournal.com/998210.html [...]

[shirebound]

*applauds*

and thanks <lj user="dreamflower02" for the link.

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

I liked this. It is very thought provoking and true.

[jaxomsride.livejournal.com]

Sadly an anthem of our modern commercial lives.

Well written and all too sadly true, though I'm more of a half full person myself.

[izhilzha.livejournal.com]

I love this! :)