A Son's Reflection | Teen Ink

A Son's Reflection

August 14, 2008
By Anonymous

We walk onto man-made land,
All made by corporate's hand.
Fake trees, fake grass, fake air, real friend,
Fake sounds, fake smell, real time I want to spend.
This isn't our home, but something feels right,
I walk in his shadow, ready for that mischievous bite.
The building looks at us, taken aback,
It hasn't seen people dressed like that.
Without perfect tie, perfect suit, perfect case,
Perfect hair, perfect shoes that are perfectly laced.
That walk in every day, same smile, same mold,
Same speeches, conferences, and meetings to hold.

No emotion, no heart
Just feelings ripped apart

Their eyes glazed, and face emotionless,
Nothing can break them, nothing can stress.
We are strangers posing a threat,
No perfection, just grass stains, sandals, and sweat.
We walk to the place that feels like home,
Its all glass, too blue, and no foam.
We cast in the air and the lures fly fast,
How fitting that the strangers break the glass.
Start to reel, now a bite all to fast,
This is just luck, not possible to last.
A quick cast once more,
It's a twin I'm sure.
The pattern repeats and does not conclude,
Slowly I see a most eerie view.
The fish are the same, but it's more than that,
Perfect fin, perfect stripe, perfect shape, no fat.
The fish all have the same routine,
Just like the business men, perfect and clean.
I wonder what the fish do all day in there,
Swim perfect strokes, breath perfect air.
Release perfect bubbles, eat perfect food.
Just like businessmen whose days soon conclude.
I'm troubled by the lack of real,
Everything glassy with a plastic feel.
But everything's okay, as I look at him,
I smile at him, he gives me a grin.
The gaps in our teeth say it all,
Nature isn't everything, its everything small.
How I love him and he loves me,
And how we can simply bask in each other's company.


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This article has 7 comments.


Arleen said...
on Sep. 9 2008 at 3:48 am
Alec, you are very talented. It was a poem that really made me think.

joyce said...
on Sep. 3 2008 at 2:31 pm
Alec, I enjoyed reading your poem - it comes to no surprise that you understand and was able to reflect on the soul of your relationship and not the surface. Thank you for sharing.

anniegirl said...
on Sep. 2 2008 at 5:55 pm
What a powerful piece of work!!! I love the line of fake trees, etc, ending with real friend. Your writing allows the reader to really see what you are saying, and that is a gift. Ending with "the gaps in our teeth...and so on" was perfect. Thanks for sharing.

on Aug. 30 2008 at 12:58 am
Alec, Knowing the players adds a depth to your writing that makes it even more striking. I loved your distinguishing between the two sides of every person, and how one need not impact on the other. I particularly loved the gapped teeth (since I have them too). You use wonderful imagery and are very talented. You should consider a career in writing (if it isn't too plastic or glass for you)! Keep up the good work.

gerri d. said...
on Aug. 28 2008 at 10:53 pm
Keep up the great work, Alec! Wow!

on Aug. 28 2008 at 9:02 pm
Your family must be very proud of you to have written such outstanding poetry. Keep up the good work.

Baubie5 said...
on Aug. 28 2008 at 1:59 am
Terrific! What a wonderful piece of literature. So very proud and impressed. Keep writing