what use have i
in a world of the bottom line
with severe structure and organization
with deadlines due yesterday
that thinks in linear lines
that wants tangible results
and the real and the practical
and what use has it of me?

what can i do
when it demands that dreams
be tied to these expectations?
they assume 
that i shall put them in motion
drive them to action
but i am lost
in possibilities
in concepts
in idealization
and incessantly ask "what if?"

i generate the sparks
but so often lack the ability
to make fire or electricity
that everyone can see and use
i have been able to make
presentations better
to facilitate discussions
and to offer new perspective
i understand the theory
but fail miserably at the practice

so i am declared useless
by the technical
the practical
the logical
and the extroverted

even academia does not seem to have a place for me

my kinsfolk in thought seem to be gone
everyone is more aristotliean than platonic
and the philosopher is dead

14 responses total.

cool...hmm..this sparks a slight bit of motivation to write something
similiar, but on the flip side of the coin....as in what use does the world
have for me for being more religious and intrested in God versus
technology..etc..
I dunno...I'll think on it...

very dry, but appropriately so; the entire thing echos the way you're
crumbling in a linear, patterned world.

Linear lines?  Come on... :)

<giggle>  Redundancy happens?

(Slight glitch with the ending....most people would consider Aristotle just
as much of a philosopher as Plato.  I know what you mean, but it sounds a
little funny.  Could you find a name to use instead of Aristotle that isn't
generally associated w/philosophy?)

Other than that, my reaction is the same as it is to most of your poems --
a sentiment I agree with, nicely put, but I really want to see more imagery
and "poeticness."  
(Of course, as #2 points out, the dryness is appropriate given the topic)

        It might muddle the point, but I'm thinking I'd express the difference
as "Carl Sagan and Salvador Dali", both of whom I respect deeply and have
beautiful (though diametrically opposed) views of life.

(I like the word "diametrically")

        It has that certian je-ne-sais-quoi-under-glass feel to it, eh?

Re #6:  Nicely put.
Re #8:  What?

ah well, at least he's coherent half the time....

        It's an old Mad Magazine joke.  One of the menu items in a French
restaraunt was "Je ne sais quoi under glass".

Ah.

resp:2  Thank you-- I was writing under a fit of utter desperation.

I am tired of being unemployed and having a degree on the way 
that I am beginning to believe will be totally worthless to my career.

I am tired of being an idea man.  People want things they can see.

I don't feel like I fit in.  Even here, everyone seems like they can 
'craft' something better than me-- or that well, gee, yeah, they are 
so arty like me, but then so many have other skills that have them 
a job.

Sorry.   <rant/whine/moan off>

I'm more than sure you hasve some skill that can get you a job -- hell, go
shuffle papaers, do secretarial or receptionist work.  It's easy; a minimul
amount of computer knowhow and the rest can be learned in a a week or less.

What I've looked into so far is technical support for a new computer
company setting up in December, and security work.  Today I will be
looking at a job driving a van for the Doubletree Inn.

My complaint, really, is that I can't seem to see a job that will allow
me to 'follow my bliss,' as it were-- doing something I like and that
doesn't seem like work.  It will take time, I'm sure.

Response not possible - You must register and login before posting.

- Backtalk version 1.3.30 - Copyright 1996-2006, Jan Wolter and Steve Weiss