different than this
...
am I different than this…
picking apart tendencies
and seeing where the similarities lie
between generation, between ground and sky
how do I zag where you zig?
how can I thrive where you stagnate?
am I different than this…
I can only sleep in now when it’s raining at dawn
because the dark skies give the illusion
of a world still at rest…
and so I remain, in placidity,
in restive unconsciousness
the cat cries for freedom,
not a willful embrace…
but there is no liberation
— there is only death out there
look at these people
thinking they can boss me around
look at this ghost
thinking dead spirits can boss me around
look at this senescent…
the whole damn world
trying to boss me around
but this dude abides…
however he will not tolerate indecency
he will remain poised in the face of adversity
and he will not propagate
the disuse and dispossession
of those who do not deserve it
I will take pleasure in the simple things
I will not be brought down
by misery and inherited strife
because I am different than this
I am
Garbage Notes:
This poem is about wanting to be different than the people who came before you. But then realizing that you probably aren’t. And that in some ways we are all the same, and we all tend to repeat patterns that we are barely even aware of.
We promise ourselves we will not propagate the sins of our forefathers. And then we do it anyway. We lie to ourselves by saying we will not tolerate indecent behavior. And yet we do it anyway.
Mainly this poem is about what it takes to do more than just abide by the examples that are set for you. In a society. In childhood. By the institutions and people whom you are conditioned to believe know what’s best for you.
It’s difficult not to be brought down by inherited strife. No one chooses to be brought into this world, and yet we are. We are blessed with inordinate difficulties, challenges, adversities, and battles, that had we been given the choice, we probably would rather not deal with. Yet we must.
Being different is a daily choice. It’s a moment-by-moment choice. You might have tendencies like everyone else. You might have moments of weakness. You will make mistakes. But in every second of the day you can make a new decision to be different than what came before. With a new year ahead of us, this attitude of flexibility and forgiveness is more important than ever.
Franco Amati 2025
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A poignant poem about wanting to change. Wanting to set an original course for oneself. Enjoyed this and and found much here to relate to about life.
Last few lines so good:
"I will not be brought down
by misery and inherited strife"
Very easy to get dragged down by miserable people. So much here to reflect on Franco.