Thursday, February 13, 2020

Extended Metaphor

Please enjoy our emulation of Julio Noboa Polanco's inspiring poem "Identity" using extended metaphors of our own.

22 comments:

  1. Endless Ink

    Let them be like phones,
    Always wanted, uesd, accepted, remade,
    But constricted to a brick of code.

    I’d rather be a dusty old book,
    With thousands of pages, thousands of words,
    Waiting for the Ink to be told.

    To hold endless Ink in an Inkless world,
    To be opened, to be needed,
    In a world without need, a thoughtless expanse.
    To be flipped through, to be long-lived,
    Sending my Ink, my essence,
    to the deepest depths of the mind.

    I’d rather be “false”, or even
    Because I was “Disproven”,
    Than to be a bright, softly glowing phone,
    Mindlessly switching from task to task,
    Waiting patiently, quietly, brainlessly,
    For their Inkless Puppeteers.

    I’d rather look of ripped pages, and grimy wet mold,
    Than of pristine, ignorant metal.
    If I could be written with ink and mind,
    I’d rather be a dusty old book.

    -By Yours Truly,
    Jesus 2

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thunderous Night, by: Tom

    Let them be a sunny day,
    always loved appreciated, worshiped, admired,
    but normal to the naked eye.

    I’d rather be a wayward hurricane,
    resisting the beautiful rays of the sun, like a repellent.

    To have raged land with destruction,
    to be cold, to feel hated by everyone.
    To be depressing in every which way possible.
    Carrying the pain, the horror of thousands,
    for years and years to come.

    I’d rather be ignored, and if not
    loathed by everything.
    Then to be a bright golden ball in the sky.
    Which everything looks up to,
    as if being the center of the galaxy.
    Having its power taken and used by others.

    I’d rather cause grey storm clouds,
    then a bright blue sky.
    If I could stand alone, brave, and strong,
    I’d rather be a wayward hurricane.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Identity

    Let them be as songbirds,
    Always singing, listened to, adored,
    But strapped to the safety of a tree

    I’d rather be a snake
    Slithering on the forest floor
    Under the glimmering sun
    Hunting for the next prey to be mine

    To live on my own, to hunt for myself,
    To be free, to be my own king
    To slither across branches
    No one but me carrying my future across my back
    Through forests, rivers, deserts,
    Never being held back by a cage

    I’d rather be unseen
    In trees, weeds, tall grass, and under rocks
    Than to need to sing beautifully,
    Flying in flocks together,
    Where they’re raised, fed and captured
    By the selfish, human race

    I’d rather sound of the hissing monster
    Than of beautiful, harmonus songs
    If i could slither alone, free, a king,
    I’d rather be a hated, lonely snake.


    -Babatunde

    ReplyDelete
  4. Let them be as dreams
    Always colorful, wonderful, euphoric, marvelous, admired
    But forgotten in time

    I’d rather be a terrifying, disgusting nightmare
    Burrowed in the mind, like a tree’s roots
    Constantly evolving and reminiscent among the soul

    To have made a hole in the wall
    To live, to be exposed to one’s magnificent thoughts
    Of questions posed to the nonexistent gods
    To be changed in the calm of the storm
    Carrying my will, my goal
    Beyond the unimaginable, into the unknown

    I’d rather be feared, and if
    Then shunned by the mind
    Than to be a lovely-sublime dream
    Growing in numbers each night
    Where they’re praised, loved, and forgotten
    Through one’s short, fragile lifespan of the memory

    I’d rather be remembered as revolting, petrifying
    Than a sweet, superb dream
    If I could be remembered, recalled and recollected
    I’d rather be a freakish, bizarre nightmare.

    -B.I.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Stinky

    by Peter Griffin


    Let them be ants,
    dependent and defended,
    but without control of their life.

    I’d rather be a long, disgusting roach,
    avoiding becoming a meal, like a brittle,
    predators looming over, sharp-taloned hawks.

    To be crushed and keep walking,
    to survive, to play tag with death
    barely dodging its hands, the adrenaline-fueled high.
    To eat spoiled fruit and enjoy every sweet, syrupy bite,
    fueling my wings, my eyes.
    To fly away from dangers, barely still alive.

    I am invisible when found
    I must hide again,
    while they feed on great bounties,
    ignoring the bodies of sisters fallen,
    forgotten by their comrades.

    I’d rather be a horrifying, sickening creature,
    a vilified pest to those who give me name,
    than a nameless, privileged ant.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Identity
    Let them be as diamonds
    Always treasured, held, polished
    But trapped within the hold of man

    I’d rather be a small, lumpy rock
    Sitting in the bank of a river, unbothered
    Feeling the gentle waves of the crystal clear water

    To be safe from harm’s way,
    To live a peaceful life,
    Observing as the seasons pass
    To be showered by the daily rain,
    While carrying my wisdom, my thoughts
    As I ponder about the world amidst of the changing weather

    I’d rather be eroded by the safe hands of nature
    And slowly sink away,
    Than to be a beautiful, sparkly diamond
    Collected in the mysterious cities
    Where they are auctioned, flaunted, then hidden

    I’d rather be covered in unpleasant, green moss
    Than to be cleaned and polished daily
    If I could have eternal peace,
    I’d rather be a small, lumpy rock

    By Fork

    ReplyDelete
  7. Tough

    Let them be a heart,
    Pumping off energy and life but fragile
    Needed and necessary for life

    I’d rather be a strong, tough rock
    Surrounded by others like me
    To feel the embrace and love

    To have learned and experienced life lessons,
    To feel, to know, to have experience
    To be pushed down and get back up again and again
    To feel like I can handle anything that comes my way
    To act like a tiger, strong and persistent
    Carrying my free, strong, and uncontainable soul across the rugged land

    I'd rather be hurt and strong,
    Then to be protected and tend to everyone's beck and call
    Then to be untested to how much you can handle
    Then to be Lonely and used

    I'd rather be hated and betrayed
    Then to be loved and kept by pity
    If I could stand tough and proud not waiting on the clock,
    I'd rather be a free, strong rock

    -k

    ReplyDelete
  8. Identity ( alternately titled "Sweet Desolation"

    If to be a mountain entails banishment from the world
    If my only companions will be the harsh wind and the frigid sleet
    Then so be it, for I will not hear their bitter remarks
    Their hatred will not phase me in the slightest

    Let them embrace their lives as beaches
    Loved by many,
    Admired by all
    For they do not realize how blind they are,
    Jumping headfirst into the trap that lies before them
    The sand they so proudly boast, it will engulf them all
    The ones they look up to the most, wreck them
    With toys of plastic and boats of oil
    Yet they still look up to their attackers,
    are too far lost in their stardom to recognize abuse

    I will not pity them,
    For they have thrust this fate upon themselves

    I would rather watch from my snowy peaks that they despised the most
    As they continue to refuse my help, as if i would still offer it,
    After what they have done, they could not expect me to crumble
    To crumble, for them.
    I would've done it too,
    If only they had faced themselves

    But they wouldn’t dare sacrifice their precious palms
    Their glorious waves and skies of blue
    Why, you may ask, would they clutch to their possessions as they fall further into the void?
    How could they be so stubborn to refuse salvation?
    For that,
    I do not have the answer

    - Comically_Cosmic

    ReplyDelete
  9. Identity

    With them let me be a summer sun
    Always warm, bright, cheerful, sparkling,
    But slowly hiding beyond the sea

    Alone I rather be a cold winter's night
    Glistening, like the heavenly bodies
    Illuminating the dark, eternal skies

    To have broken the glass
    To be lost, to feel teared in to two different worlds, walking different paths
    Of endless memories
    To be confined to a world that's shattered, missing pieces
    Carrying part of my soul, my sound
    Trapped in a different universe

    I rather be hidden, frightened of if they see
    Than to be a cold winter's night,
    Slowly freezing the warmth of the summer breeze
    Where there's life, love, and laughter
    Playing a joyful melody

    If only I can be a cold winter's night and a summer sun
    Than be torn between sides
    If I could show myself that both sides are equally beautiful
    Then I'd rather be a beautiful summer sun and a gorgeous winter's night

    By-MCRX

    ReplyDelete
  10. IDENTITY
    Look at those beautiful butterflies
    adored by their beautiful pattern
    but prey to many

    I'd rather be a ugly moth
    hiding in the dark of night
    but free to soar the night.

    To be exposed to madness
    but to be mysterious
    free to fly without shackles
    to act on impulse and instict
    beyond the reachable and into the bizzare

    I'd rather be ignored
    than be the topic of dicussion
    nurtured by others
    imprisioned in containers
    and raised by the greedy

    To be ugly bage colors would be ideal
    than being a palet of colors
    If that means I can't stand alone
    That means I'd rather be a ugly colorless moth.
    -Dinosaur chicken nugget

    ReplyDelete
  11. Identity

    Let them be as butterflies,
    always watered, fed, guarded, admired,
    but trapped in a small cage.

    I’d rather be a big, hairy moth,
    fluttering in the night, like a gazelle
    frolicking in the vast, luscious Savannah.

    To have escaped a dusty closet,
    to fly, to feel exposed to the chaos
    of the windy night sky.
    To glide in the breeze of an old city,
    carrying my wings, my spirit
    beyond the clutches of humans and into eternal forest.

    I’d rather be disgusting, and if
    then swatted by everyone,
    than to be a gorgeous colorful butterfly,
    festering in cocoons in a small cage,
    where they’re admired, handled, and bred
    by selfish, human hands.

    I’d rather feed on dusty old sweaters
    than from beautiful, fragrant lilies
    If I could fly, high and free,
    I’d rather be a big, ugly moth.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I see trees of green
    Red roses too
    I see them bloom
    For me and you
    And I think to myself
    What a wonderful world
    -Post Malone

    ReplyDelete
  13. Chosen Identity

    By: Boar Vessel 500-600 B.C.

    Let them be perfect pretty puppets,
    an object; adored, maintained, put on a pedestal,
    but kept under the strings of their master.

    I’d rather have my own performance,
    free to soar high, like a bird
    gliding through any unknown terrain, with the wind behind him.

    To truly feel like breaking through the surface of the heavy water,
    flying through restriction itself,
    allowing everything to break free from its cage.
    To fall into a deep sleep of freedom,
    my soul frolickling around as it pleases.

    I’d rather hear my own voice filling the emptiness,
    than to be a puppet on a string, with crowds of strangers
    and not even recognizing my own voice.
    Where as a puppet, i would be forced a song in the wrong tune,
    and clothes that don’t fit right.

    I’d rather be struggling to even get a yellowed, dim lamp light,
    than an artificial, blinding white light that bleaches my true colors away.
    If I could keep my persona, my light,
    I’d rather have my own empty performance.






    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ⢀⣠⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⣤⣶⣶ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⢰⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣀⣀⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡏⠉⠛⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠈⠛⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠛⠉⠁⠀⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⠿⠿⠿⠻⠿⠿⠟⠿⠛⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣸⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣄⠀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣴⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠏⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠠⣴⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⠀⠀⢰⣹⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣭⣷⠀⠀⠀⠸⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠃⠀⠀⠈⠉⠀⠀⠤⠄⠀⠀⠀⠉⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⢿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢾⣿⣷⠀⠀⠀⠀⡠⠤⢄⠀⠀⠀⠠⣿⣿⣷⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡀⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢄⠀⢀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠉⠁⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢹⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿

      -Post Malone's reaction

      Delete
  14. Perfect:
    Let them be the perfect store bought diamonds
    Admired,desired,and sought after
    But trapped in their cases

    I’d rather be flawed like a washed up stone
    Left on the beach
    Sinking into the sand

    To be left alone and on my own
    To feel as free as the wind
    And the crashing seas around me
    To be carried throughout the seas like a seed


    I’d rather be ignored
    So I can continue to the unexplored
    And be my own lord
    Than to be confined to a setting
    Branded and owned
    Picked,petted and handled
    By the rough and cold touch of those greedy human hands

    I’d rather be flawed, washed up and dull
    Than admired for nothing more than my shine
    If I could be free than let me be
    A washed up stone
    For eventually I will make my way back into the sea
    Drifting toward the unexplored
    So let them be perfect
    For I’d rather be flawed.
    -scout


    ReplyDelete
  15. Element
    By kapeeps

    Let them be water
    Plentiful, loved, needed to survive
    But wasted, taken for granted
    Recycled over and over again

    I’d rather be fire
    Burning brightly, spreading warmth
    Bringing people together at a bonfire
    Singing and laughing together

    To be free, uncontainable
    To cause destruction, to burn, no barriers in my path
    That prevent my existence
    Spreading, free, multiplying
    Unable to be stopped by a mere drop of water

    I’d rather give people warmth
    On a cold winter night, than
    Provide a place to swim during summer
    Where they’re polluted, thrown trash into,
    By dirty, greedy humans

    Instead of being needed and admired
    I’d rather be free, uncontrollable fire

    ReplyDelete

  16. Time:
    Let them be like pictures
    Taped up,Hang around and boxed up
    But always trapped in timed

    I’d rather be a thought
    Free,forgotten,only for a period of time
    But never trapped for to long in the mind

    I come and go as I please
    Never waiting for my release
    I flow like the seas
    And travel with the breeze

    Never confined to the chains of time
    But always freed from a certain frame of mind
    I never expire and I can’t be put out like fire
    I change as I please with no restraints around me

    Let them be like pictures
    Left behind trapped in a frame we call time
    Left up in the attic with all the dusty old cobwebs
    Let them be confined to time

    I’d rather be a thought
    Free to be what I want
    Like a wonderful breeze that comes and goes



    ReplyDelete
  17. Let them be the melody
    always praised, listened to, admired, and sung.
    but depicted as clones in the audience's head.

    I'd rather be the low, ugly base line,
    as simple as can be, like a bug,
    flying around the open sky.

    To have lived in the oceans of deep,
    like a whale wallowing in below,
    to feel exposed to the vast, eternal, sea,
    it is where I can be as rash as
    the base line, my soul, is free.

    I'd rather be ignored, and if then,
    hated by everyone
    than to be the bright, beautiful, melody,
    dancing in harmony with one another,
    and then beamed by the everlasting spotlight
    by the listeners that seek.

    I'd rather be heard as dark, simple, shadow
    than of gleaming, colorful lights.
    If I could stay low, yet free,
    I'd rather be the ugly baseline, as simple as can be.

    ReplyDelete
  18. As a minnow, as a hermit crab

    let them be as tuna
    Large, beautiful, strong
    but always being hunted,

    I'd rather be a minnow,
    small, fast, and free,
    swimming around without a care,
    so small no one tries to catch me,

    I'd rather be ignored,
    then always have to be looking behind my back,
    let the tuna be sought after,

    Let them be as lobsters,
    expensive, tasty, red,

    I'd rather be a hermit crab,
    small inexpensive and not sought after,
    the only purpose to find a new house once in a while,
    while the purpose of a lobster's to not be captured,

    even with their fancy Claws and Tails there are still Hunted,
    but as a hermit crab with your small shell, you will be safe,
    you're only worries are food and small children looking at you,

    I'd rather be small and insignificant than be a large Target.

    ReplyDelete
  19. 5 AM
    by Booger MacFarland

    Let them lounge at home,
    On the couch, in bed, relaxed and comfortable,
    but strapped to failure.

    I’d rather be training,
    up at the crack of dawn,
    and down past dusk.
    Not even thinking of getting out of the pool,
    to be the guy on the couch.

    Always giving 100%,
    always pushing past my struggles,
    always working to be better,
    but never giving in,
    because I don't want to be that guy at home.
    I’d rather be laying in the pool in exhaustion,
    Than be laying in bed in relaxation

    To outlast my competition,
    to touch the wall first,
    to win and be successful,
    that is when hard work gets its payday,
    and when the lazy guy gets nothing.

    They think they're getting a good night sleep,
    when the only thing they're sleeping on is my work ethic.
    If they're okay with relaxing on the couch,
    They better be okay with finishing behind me.

    Medals, trophies, and plaques are won at the championships,
    but the champion is crowned before that,
    they're crowned when they arise at 5 AM to work,
    while the runner-up snoozes at home.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Identity

    Let them be butterflies
    Symbols of beauty and grace
    Loved by the masses and shielded from the harshness of the world
    Being known for their beauty
    And being subjected by their attractiveness

    I’d rather be a fat, ugly caterpillar
    Gluttonous and underdeveloped
    Waiting for my peak, for my prime
    I’d rather eat weeds and grow
    Than fly with wings of captivity
    Stared at by mobs
    Reaching their grubby, greedy hands towards me

    I prefer being overlooked to being captured
    Full of weeds, than of sickly sweet nectar
    Drowning the truth with its golden glow

    Living with the sunlight shining down, burning you
    Whereas I am shaded by milkweed leaves, and I am safe
    My stripes are called ugly, and I fade
    Your spots are deemed exotic, magnificent, and pure
    But you never leave the spotlight
    You never achieve freedom

    Your delicacy is that of a diamond
    Exhibited, but sold
    Your beauty is incomparable
    But your hope dwindles

    I would rather be a fat, ugly caterpillar
    Free and ignored
    Than a beautiful butterfly
    Loved but suffering

    - kohn

    ReplyDelete
  21. Identity
    -Meh

    Let them be as pets
    Always fed hydrated protected and praised
    But harnessed to a back yard.

    I’d rather be a stray, ugly dog
    Eating trash from the dump, like a rat
    Climbing over tall, wet boxes.

    To have broken through unopened trash can lids,
    To live , to feel exposed to the endless amounts of unopened food.
    To feel alive with the morning breeze blowing
    across my face, my body, and my tail.

    I’d rather be hidden, and if
    Then avoided by humans,
    Than to be a nice-looking mannequin,
    Found in groups around an expensive store,
    Where they’re gazed, touched, and purloined
    By avaricious, human hands.

    I’d rather smell of a green, sewage scent
    Than a sweet smelling rose.
    If I could be solo but powerful and free,
    I’d rather be a stray ugly dog.

    ReplyDelete