Nowhere Is My Somewhere

Be yourself- not your idea of what you think somebody else's idea of yourself should be. - Thoreau

The people all stare.

Their pupils fixed and dilated on thin air.

As if I'm not even there.

From their not-so-ideal plain.

Devoid of my pain.

What is it that they see?

What do they know?

To Hell with them all, I say.

Perhaps it's time for me to fly away.

For my truth to finally show.

Where the music isn't slow.

To that place where nonconforming souls pray to go ...

Author's Note

"As to conforming outwardly and living your own life inwardly, I do not think much of that." - Thoreau

Reviews

[barleygirl]

When I first started at the cafe 5 yrs ago, some young whippersnapper msg'ed back & forth with me a few times & got the impression my wilderness lifestyle was so sad & she wrote & posted the most condescending poem about how awfully I live!!! In general, people envy my being in wilderness, while also realizing they could never stand to live as isolated as I am. Your poem is right up my ridge! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Pete]

i envy you. i so miss my house on the hill at the end of a dirt road surrounded by woods with the babbling brook running through it. deer, turkeys, coyotes, red fox and owls visited me there. who could ask for better neighbors?

I'm sure you're familiar with what my muse once wrote -
“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms...” - Thoreau

[barleygirl]

I didn't start out with such an intention . . . it was a financial necessity after neck surgery with no medical coverage & it felt like life as I knew it was devastated. Then I learned that I thrive here more than anywhere else in my life & that made all the difference!

[Pete]

unexpected detours can lead us to wonders and places we were destined to go ... :)

[Chris Shaw]

So important we stay true to ourselves. Live our lives the way we feel comfortable. Nothing worse than trying to fit into a lifestyle which only suits other people. We are all unique. We should celebrate that uniqueness. Well penned Pete and well said.

Chris

[Pete]

indeed. not easy to go our own way in an oftentimes overbearing society but that is where the good stuff of life is - being our unique selves. thanks chris. hope you're fairing well in this madness ... :)

[Chris Shaw]

Trying to keep busy in the chaos. It helps :) Keep safe and well.

[Gee]

I'm a firm believer that we do not truly love our lives until we become comfortable in our own skin, accept ourselves for what we are warts and all.
Good morning Pete

[Pete]

it's disturbing how many of us don't love ourselves. we can't love anything or anyone else until we come to grips with ourselves. thanks gee. a belated top o' the mornin' to ya ... :)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I agree with Thoreau on that one.
and I agree with you on this poem...we struggle to be ourselves...and we need to...there has to be a place, a kind of heaven for nonconformists to fly with their own brand of wings...
What did Sly and the Family Stone sing" thank you for lettin' me be mice elf"? "different strokes for different folks"
ah yes.

[Pete]

not an easy thing to do. more difficult as time goes on but nevertheless necessary. variety is the spice of life with nature being a perfect example. mr. t. knew this full well. thanks j. ... :)

[John the Baptist]

Perhaps in their own ways, the conformists provide the impetus for those who march to a different drummer to truly express themselves. More than one artist has shown his brilliance in an effort to stand out against his plain backdrop.

[Pete]

i agree. how would we know about nonconformity unless there was conformity? how would one know that they are different? my muse thoreau is perfect example ... :)

[Diamond]

Nonconformity is one's Birth-right. Beautiful flow and sponteinity of the writing is impressive. Thanks for sharing.

[Pete]

yes indeed, our God-given right. thank you diamond. shine on ... :)