Saturday, November 16, 2013

The I of We (Inspired by Anthem, Ayn Rand)



The I of We
(Inspired by Anthem, Ayn Rand)


 Black future-
 World without love

  To shed the plural skin,
  taste forbidden fruit   
  in  barren dystopia
  where no one dare stand alone

  Hunger grows in lands
  scorched by the consuming
  flames of the great “we”.


 The dying of self
 stands without shadow
 extinguished by iniquitous skies,
 ashen without a heaven.

(For deverse sci-fi poetry 11/16/13) .

32 comments:

  1. That is a very pessimistic view upon the future. I believe it will be the other way around: The "we" will become temporal, and the "I" will be basic as we perceive The Trinity. Nation states, for instance, I believe will disappear.

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  2. I have read a few books by Ayn Rand. A hypnotic, but frightening writer. I don't really know what to think of her....and I don't seek further (for many reasons).

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    1. The only book I have read by Ayn Rand is Anthem and I found the concept of a world without individuality very frightening and I do see a loss of self in a lot of people especially in this time. This theme also played a major part in Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 which is one of my favorite books. The reason I love poetry so much is because it is sharing of feelings where our individual expression unites us.

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  3. To shed the plural skin, the I remaining would be brave amidst the consuming of the great "we" ~ A black future you have painted but recognizable to us all living in this time & age ~

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    1. I believe this is why I was intrigued by this book. It definitely painted a bleak future but I too see a lot of similarities in the present time.

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  4. Great stuff, Lisa... especially the ending.

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  5. i think that it is only in the coming together that we will be free of any such future...in laying down our self interest for the greater good...

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    2. That's what I found so disheartening about this story. No one would join this man and fight for love, family, knowledge etc. They just accepted injustice.

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  6. The threat of a we.. is often a higher I... never read Ayn Rand..but I can definitely see science fiction and dystopic speculation in many other authors... love how you condensed this down.. it works very well for me.

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  7. I like the last line... it resonates. it's so easy so see a black future.

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  8. this all consuming flame of negative 'we' can't be doused unless a valiant 'i' appears (history of the world tells us society will create one if need be) and makes followers to become positive 'we'......cycle of 'we' is a never ending one.....nice write up :)

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  9. Lisa,

    I liked this rather dark poem for two reasons...One, that in a bleakness worse than that of Brave New World, a dystopian coldness will bring such self-centered survival...Also Lisa, I saw another world in your poem...That of the loss of identity. The loss of simply being ,'I, me.'...Love your poetic words!!

    Eileen

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    1. Thank you Eileen. I think the loss of self is a devastating concept.

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  10. So very dark and so very good...well written and finely composed.

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  11. The title is consuming and the dwelling even more laudable!

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  12. haunting!

    this poem reminds me of rumi.

    the last stanza is breath-taking!

    stacy lynn mar
    http://warningthestars.blogspot.com/

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    1. Thank you. I will visit your blog as soon as I can.

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  13. "Hunger grows in lands
    scorched by the consuming
    flames of the great “we”."

    ...what a fantastic line that I think really illustrates a "World without love" Great piece Lisa!

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    1. Thank you Jennifer. Can't wait to read some more of your work.

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  14. You bring out the desolation very well.

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  15. I started Atlas Shrugged some time ago her writing is gorgeous no doubt and she definitely does give you food for thought, very heavy and very dark this poem brilliantly embodies that

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    1. I just picked up a copy of Atlas Shrugged, haven't had a chance to read it yet. Thank you.

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  16. the poem paints a bleak and soulless world. it's a great take on the prompt.
    enjoyed the read.

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