8/24/2010

The Ant Farm












Masses moving down pathways teeming
Scurrying, hurrying, clumping at corners
Pushing and shoving in a surge to the fore
Only to clump again and again.

Thousands of feet, moving toward victory
Pushing and shoving to get there first
Thousands of eyes, all facing forward
Focused intently on future success.

Alone, with companions of plastic and flash cards
Striding with sidekicks more cherished than people
Nokias, Blackberries, Androids, and iPhones
Talking to air space instead a friend.

Around them, behind them, and even beneath them
Stacked up in cartons of concrete above them
Competing for trophies are millions just like them
Seeking trappings of status, the ultimate win.

Masses moving down pathways teeming
Scurrying, hurrying to the spoils of the victor
Maybe they’ll get there, the acme of somewhere
Only to find that there’s just no there, there.

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This was written for One Shot Wednesday.

26 comments:

  1. Have you been following me around the city? Great post, really captures the grind!

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  2. Patti: I love the movement, drive, and futility conveyed in this poem. The masses move for what reason?


    Great one for One Shot

    Moon love

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  3. You captured the pointlessness of it all.
    Excellent.

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  4. Well said Patti...there is just No There...I do not hurry anymore....and the only there is right here....bkm

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  5. Sadly, true. But I wonder if they would stop knowing there was no ultimate prize? Your poetry always makes me think, Patti. Thank you.

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  6. Love this poem! "Maybe they’ll get there, the acme of somewhere / Only to find that there’s just no there, there." A "consoling" double entendre—brilliant.

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  7. This does create such a hectic movement and desparation. We lose sight of the goal and place our faith in objects. Excellent One Shot, Patti.

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  8. oh excellent...rushing to get only to find empty hands esp when all you ever talk to is your droid...smiles. love that last stanza patti!

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  9. The rush of the madding crowd..where to go and where are you going? The eternal questions of the modern age. Good capture Patti. Thank you.

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  10. If only the struggles of the masses were nearly as productive as those of an ant colony...

    Seriously, though, can you imagine a little mini ant-droid phone? :)

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  11. ahh Patti..you are a wanderer,just like me..i loved this journey,destination nowhere..

    Maybe they’ll get there, the acme of somewhere
    Only to find that there’s just no there, there.

    PERFECT! love it..:)))

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  12. A compelling description of what we've become...

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  13. I like the proximity you convey while coupled with the need for affection and interaction. Well done Pattiken:)

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  14. we're all so hectic and in a rush all the time aren't we?

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  15. Oh, well done PattiKen! I could feel that, the rush and the energy... The hippie inside of me wants to go hug a tree now... :) Hugs/ Jo.

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  16. You paint a disturbing picture here. What have we come to when we can't even relate to one another in... well, you know, a HUMAN way? You expressed this perfectly.

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  17. Talk about an interesting way to capture the rat race...

    "Maybe they’ll get there, the acme of somewhere
    Only to find that there’s just no there, there."

    These two lines are extremely powerful...

    Great One Shot.

    Be Inspired Today! Love and Light,

    Sender

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  18. Thank you for coming, All. One cannot avoid feeling the urgency to "get there" in a bustling city. Tourists (objects of derision, often) are like rocks in the stream, with the driven breaking around them in their rush to the next corner. You rarely see people strolling along, talking to each other.

    All that being said, I love the energy and excitement, as long as I'm not in the "race." It's a classic case of "I like to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there."

    Thanks again for coming and for your comments. I'm thrilled with both.

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  19. Its a chilling reminder that in the UK alone has grown from 37 million to 61 million in 80 years. This is in the lifetime of say my father-in-law. We have the 2nd highest density of population in the EU.Thanks for dropping by and commenting on my poem The final seaside trip. I hope you have a good week!

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  20. ..oh - my iPhone IS my friend….smiles
    Patti - you managed to capture the restlessness - and i love the end - there is no THERE….

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  21. Very well done, Patti!! That's New York City baby!! :)
    Every time I set foot in Manhattan (which is almost every other day), this is how I feel...
    A never ending race it is! And who will, no one knows...

    An awesome poem!! Watching the Empire State from home, and reading this poem --- a perfect combination!! :)

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  22. You captured that so well. We are really so disconnected.

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  23. Wow, that last stanza stands out for me Patti. You have described the crazy race so very well. x

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  24. This is great. It is so true that we are so disconnected in the middle of masses of people.

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  25. This i wonderful Patti you made me think of all the sweat shops around the world..that factory feelings you captured it well. Loved this lines-

    'Alone, with companions of plastic and flash cards
    Striding with sidekicks more cherished than people
    Nokias, Blackberries, Androids, and iPhones
    Talking to air space instead a friend.'

    Great oneshot dear~

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  26. Patti,
    Loved these lines:
    "Maybe they’ll get there, the acme of somewhere
    Only to find that there’s just no there, there."

    How true..sometimes I wonder what all the mad rush is for...where is everyone going and in quest of what really??
    cheers
    Suja

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Thoughts? I would love to hear from you.