I am a Nobody

Else, who else am I?

I am nobody. 

Nobody wants to be a nobody

Everybody wants to be a somebody

I could have been born as a prince or a pauper. 

A saint or a militant.

I could have been a woman even,

Capable of producing life.

For which men would have been eternally jealous,

They are capable of only art and poetry.

It would have been me who made the earth whole and zealous,

Had I been born as a woman.

 

I was given a name

To be known as somebody.

By a somebody.

Out a billion names available,

I chose to be known as somebody.

From birth I was taught and trained

To keep repeating my name

Like a trained parrot

Just to show society.

That I am a somebody

And not a nobody.

 

I was later told by society,

To really be a somebody.

Never remain a nobody,

because no one respects such one.

Be a somebody,

make sure everyone praises you together as one.

 

Out of a billion life forms available

I was sent to live on earth as a nobody.

I wasn’t asked to wear clothes,

I wasn’t asked to make money,

I was sent simply to exist as every animal does.

Why I am asked to be anybody in life? I find it funny.

 

Out of a billion life forms, here I am.

To live till an unknown time,

Asked by society to have a few  

hopes and dreams Just to pass time.

Only I can tell myself why I matter,

Of what meaning of my existence would have rather.

 

We have either told or been told to be, who we are,

Just like that memorised name from our past.

Our hopes, dreams and ambitions,

will never cease to last.

 

If we choose not to be who we are,

Who would we be?

Will this help us in our escape from society, and us free?

 

I am a nobody.

There has never been, never will be anyone like us, any time in history. 

Are we original or are we re-incarnated? It still a mystery.

I am just one among existence,

Just like the animals and trees,

My consciousness similiar to all of them,

This will be my understanding.

This will be my penance.

 

 

Reviews

[matrixmark]

This was a neat short piece. Too many people spend their lives following others in what they do, when they should be concentrating on themselves and who they are. Too many fakes and frauds are all around following eachother like they dont' know who they want to be.

I've never been a fan of following the crowd - always choosing to be different and just being me.

Your poetry is short but it really says a hell of a lot inbetween the lines. I really enjoyed reading this thoughful and well presented piece.

Mark.

[Ashwin Shanker]

I am happy that the message of the poem connected with you well.
Thanks for the review Mark.

[matrixmark]

As always...a pleasure to read your work.

Mark.

[Ashwin Shanker]

:) .......

[APOORVA]

Damn!!!
this is awesome, i can totally relate.
i wrote something like this before.
well done!

[Sapientiam]

You know, we can choose to be something more than flesh and bones. Yes, in truth, perhaps being unique is something you're not born with, but something that must be attained through work. If so, then everybody is a nobody with the potential to be somebody. It's only a matter of how willing you are to work to be the person you desire. You'll never find meaning if you don't try. Human potential is greater than we think... Beyond what we will. Beyond what we know. Sometimes, you have to take risks to find a reason to exist. That is what makes life so valuable... ^ ^

[Norman 223]

An intriguing analytical piece. I think you can always find consolation from Descartes, however.
"I think, therefore I am".
So, Ashan, regardless of your doubts, you have little to fear . :-)

[Ashwin Shanker]

This poem was written from the heart but there is no fear in my heart. I am talking just from a bit of self-reflection.

[Valentine]

We all are somebody, me...I prefer being me. I love to paint, write, read others words, I love nature and all of the things God has made. I prefer saying I am a somebody...I am me! Valentine

[aLittlePain]

I think we ponder such things from time to time. I find it ironic that we spend much of our time trying to be the same as everyone else while wanting to stand out as well. No doubt it's completely normal but I think being self aware and standing inthe confidence that you are you and the only you in the universe can hold us in good to stead to carry on in the world. Only my simple world view. Great poem. Regards Ray

[Ashwin Shanker]

We can tell ourselves a million times that our life matters, while we should know that it doesn't. That is the universal truth. We are just an organism here to enjoy the existence for a very limited time. We are here on a holiday actually, but no one seems to be enjoying it :P

[Farah Husain]

Wow I love this one. All the imagery of struggling to be somebody in a world where we feel like nobody and especially the line about being conditioned as children to parrot our name and show we are somebody. Great stuff!

[Ashwin Shanker]

Thank you Farah Hussain...
I am actually thinking of self-publishing a poetry collection... What do you think the market for that would be?
Would like to have a conversation with you based on this if you are free?

[Neal S]

I think in some way all people could relate to this piece. We all kind of stumble around wondering who or why we are. Or maybe we are nobody built by a society to be somebody. I really like this.

[Ashwin Shanker]

We are nobody built by the society (to aspire) to be a somebody. Is how I have understood it. We dont take a single penny of any of the fame or fortune back with us. We are simply burned or buried and we join the earth when we die. You could have a look at my poem, The Last wish.... Where I have addressed this more deeply.

[Neal S]

Thanks man. Id love to.

[Ruth]

And yet, there is no other nobody who is you in the world...Interesting isn't it...we all ponder on this at some point, I guess it depends what your desire to be is...maybe just being here is enough, it certainly is a mind boggling journey to comprehend especially when we ask who we are :)

[Ashwin Shanker]

True... I feel each and every person on this planet can relate to this thought. No matter which country they live in, what their age or sex is. Doesn't matter. The individuality of an individual is one to be preserved, but also questioned as well. Thanks for the review. :)

[Ara Mosby]

"Out of a billion life forms, here I am.
To live till an unknown time," - And this is the crux of it all for me...here we are, floating through a world with so many somebodies that it's difficult to know exactly who we are.

I like the way that you pointed out how you both want to be the same and different, and that is the juxtaposition of human nature - we are trained to be the same and then told that we should be different and it's a constant struggle of the mind.