Digital Exodus: A Symphony of Authenticity
These shallow souls, adrift on seas of vanity
Their empty hours filled with posing, primping, preening
A masquerade of manufactured joy and levity
Their essence eroded, façades falsely gleaming
No quest for knowledge stirs their stagnant minds
No books or arts can penetrate their haze
On comforts and indulgences their interest finds
In aimless drifting pass their wasteful days
They spurn enlightening works that challenge and provoke
Preferring pap that dulls their dormant thoughts
True meaning they evade with joke and evasive spoke
Ever retreating to their superficial lots
Why read and ponder works of depth and weight?
When posing for the camera is their only trait
This barren land where fertile minds go fallow
Where intellectual pursuits are viewed with disregard
They cultivate only weeds, their minds too hollow
To nurture meaningful goals, aims lofty and hard
Their minds are undiscovered countries, unexplored
No inner expeditions made to their uncharted shores
Only the surface scratched, always wanting more
But meaning they can never reach, try as they implore
Instead they fill the void with things, with scenes
Attempting to construct an image, a mirage
But their superficial lives still have no substance or sheen
Only glossy veneers cover their camouflage
They have no inner fire, no light within
So they desperately flaunt every glittering pin
Like noisy gongs, clanging without rhythm
Announcing themselves but saying nothing
Their ceaseless promotions are harsh and grating
Constant clamor for attention, not easing or soothing
No thought to improve themselves, no time for books
They'd rather admire themselves in rivers and brooks
Taking photos nonstop, an unending flow
Hoping external validation will make them glow
But true radiance comes not from without but within
It emerges from knowledge, from discipline and vim
Not from the latest trends or superficial whim
But from nourishment of body, soul, and mind
Their minds lie fallow, not ploughed for wisdom's seeds
Thoughtless consumption their only need and creed
No intent to create, discover, grow
Content in comfort's hypnotic undertow
Adrift without purpose, engaged in life's show
Their hands could build, plant, write, and make
Instead they raise phones, the perfect fake
They could compose, paint, craft and cook
But selfies get more eyes and hooks
The tools for creation they leave untouched
Too busy chasing what cannot be clutched
They have hands to sow, reap, and give
But only take, their barren lives cannot live
Having every chance to make their unique stamp
They waste it on frivolous self-vamp
Life offers a canvass, await their brush's stroke
But navel-gazing into mirrors is the only art they evoke
Potential wasted on superficial promotion
Rather than creation and mindful devotion
This existential quandary, this conundrum of being
Finding meaning, purpose, without seeing
That social masks bring only delusion and sadness
Not fulfillment, wisdom gained from focus and gladness
The masks present an illusion, a vapor
Of confidence, beauty, but substantively they are poorer
For meaning blossoms not from flaunting one's image
But nurturing compassion and courage within the soul's carriage
Doing, making, helping others light 'n lift -
These bring lasting joy, not promoting some myth
Being seen bears no fruit, only being and doing
Will help bring meaning to their uninspired, unmoving
Minds seeking stimulation, hands itching to hold
Let devices fall, create and change without being told.
The masks they don is but a mortgage on the self
Payment deferred while they posture and preen
Never owning their lives, always on the shelf
Their being enslaved to keep up the sheen
No introspection penetrates their hardened shells
Cocooned in comfort, they cannot see
The slow erosion of their spirit, the subtle hells
As they sacrifice their soul for vanity
They numb themselves with endless streams of feed
Mindlessly consuming each empty calorie
Never pausing to think, question, or take heed
Losing themselves in the digital reverie
Their minds grow flabby from disuse and neglect
Couch-potato consciousness they cultivate and perfect
Blinded by the glow of screens that breed dependence
Addiction masquerading as relevance
They cling to devices, fearful of being alone
Texting, scrolling, swiping - trapped in the zone
Once within they cannot leave, fearing the silence
The chance to reflect and rediscover true reliance
And so they remain, trapped in the web
Unable to unplug, to self-reflect, to ebb
The chance to reinvent is always right here
But first they must quiet the chatter and fear
Minds yearn to create, hands eager to hold
Hearts longing to open, stories waiting to be told
Put down the devices, walk out, breathe deep
Let inspiration flow, originality seep
Creating connection, finding one's voice
Comes not from screens but living by choice
They could exit the maze of halls of mirrors
And see their true selves, beyond the errors
Of equating image with spiritual wealth
Once they realize spirit's anchored in self
Not seeking validation through likes and follows
But traveling inward to unlock what hollows
Turning back from false paths, dead ends
Rediscovering passion and purpose again
This existential discontent, yearning undefined
Is the call to adventure from their soul opined
To discover their essence, buried under guise
And become who they are, to their own surprise
By living with meaning, creativity and care
Not keeping up fashions that leave them bare
There is time to change, recreate, renew
To find purpose, bring dreams to life, see them through
With vision, vigor and an open heart
Soulful trails revealed once masks depart.
Awakening from slumber's grasp, eyes now opened wide
They shed old skin, no need to cling to facade and hide
The masks once worn grate and chafe, causes only strife
Authentic living calls, waiting just outside life
Unclenching hands from devices, visions now in sight
Creating, loving, reaching out - this brings true delight
Once chained to screens, craving clicks and scrolls
Now crafting, writing, painting from stirred souls
Creating beauty, learning skills long neglected
Cultivating talents that screen time rejected
Hands moulding, chiseling, weaving anew
Hearts opened by care, compassion their cue
Discovering themselves as creators, not consumers
Giving life meaning by being its consummate doers
No longer needing validation from external eyes
They turn inward, their own soul's caretakers and allies
Shedding fear, doubt and inertia's undertow
They flourish, spreading color on life's blank canvas show
Each day a chance to discover, nourish and share
Not promote themselves but about others care
Turning away from mirages screens once sold
They live authentically, life's mysteries unfold
With empathy, courage and creativity now primed
They uphold human dignity, leave conformity behind
Once trapped in the virtual, now grounded in the real
Purpose discovered, their lives reveal
The answers sought through likes andProjection will never suffice
Meaning blooms when living true, from within, not device
Living each day purposefully, come what may
Spreading compassion along the way
Leaving behind the shackles of other's gaze
Liberated now to walk their own ways
Eyes open in wonder, curiosity returned
Hands ready to learn as lessons gotten burned
Accepting themselves fully, shadows and light
The masks removed, truth now in sight
With empathy and courage they walk each day
Discovering meaning in their own way
Neither seeking validation nor shrinking inside
But sharing their gifts with purpose and pride
This self-reclamation, choice to live free
Emerges from within, from life's custody
No longer hostage to trends or technology's glare
Their spirits fly unfettered, pioneering souls laid bare.
The poem is part of a full version found in the book “Homo Sapiens” Part Part I - XVIII, written by Mawphniang Napoleon. This book is part of the popular “Homo Sapiens” book series, which can be purchased online at various online bookstores, such as Amazon. The book is available for purchase for those who are interested in reading the complete version of the poem. Remember to get all the books from the “Homo Sapiens” series, as well as other books by the same author. So, don’t hesitate and get a copy today from one of the many online bookstores. Khublei Shihajar Nguh, (Dhanewad )(Thank you )
About this poem
This free verse poem reflects a critique of contemporary society's obsession with superficiality, technology, and self-promotion. The poet explores the consequences of a culture immersed in digital distractions, urging a return to genuine self-discovery, creativity, and meaningful engagement with life. The narrative evolves from a depiction of shallow existences to a call for personal transformation, emphasizing the importance of breaking free from societal expectations and rediscovering authentic purpose and connection. more »
Written on July 02, 2019
Submitted by Mawphniang.Napoleon on November 11, 2023
Modified by Mawphniang.Napoleon on November 12, 2023
- 7:33 min read
- 2 Views
Quick analysis:
Scheme | Text too long |
---|---|
Closest metre | Iambic hexameter |
Characters | 8,657 |
Words | 1,494 |
Stanzas | 70 |
Stanza Lengths | 4, 4, 4, 2, 4, 4, 4, 2, 4, 4, 4, 2, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 4, 4, 4, 2, 4, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 1 |
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"Digital Exodus: A Symphony of Authenticity" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 10 Jun 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/173559/digital-exodus:-a-symphony-of-authenticity>.
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