Gregory Richard Barden Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

Creative Conformity

"You are ... different, aren't you?" she said, crinkling her nose.

That sentiment, spoken by my fourth grade home-room teacher
Had been paraphrased many times before
(And would be countless times again)
Different, unusual, odd, weird, curious, complex, or just plain strange

Those were the kind ones - the ones I can repeat
My favorite, however, was "unique"
The day my mother put it into that sensible little frame, I knew ...
I ... was HOME.

You see, we creative folk
Are not put on this good earth to "fit" into it
We are not molded to be a status quo part of society
But rather, set apart FROM society

Our gifts are granted us in order to change the world
Not continue the order of its mundane spin
We are interpreters of the language of beauty and ingenuity
We weave expression and imagination into what's tangible and visible

Turning ideas and emotions to the substance of words and color and sound
Bringing light and clarity to variation and choice
We are the very children of NON-conformity
Living proof that acquiescence and conventionality stifle the human spirit

We are soldiers of vision, innovation, cleverness, and inspiration
Fighting the war on commonplace, submission and docility
Battling daily in the name of ALL who are unlike the Average Joe
And bringing inspiration to the world.

So, do I think I'm "special"?
Yes, for we are ALL special ... every single human is born with unique gifts
Ours - the artistic talents - just happen to be of a creative fashion.
Yes, I am odd, strange, weird, different, unusual, and unique ...

And I am BLESSED ... to be so.





~ 4th Place ~  in the "CReAtiVe CoNForMiTy" Poetry Contest, John Lawless, Judge & Sponsor.

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Darlene De Beaulieu December 2, 2018 at 10:51 AM Hello Gregory, we are unique in our own way. Also we all have our special talents,some of us do not know what that is. Mine is creating poetry. Have a nice day my friend.Yes some of us are odd but that makes the people around us interesting. Gregory Richard Barden December 22, 2018 at 8:17 PM You are so right, Darlene, and I thank you so much for your kindness and words. PLEASE accept my apologies for not thanking you properly until now, I am so far behind on things. Blessings to you for a happy holiday, my friend! :-) <3

Kaveesha Ruwindi November 20, 2018 at 2:55 AM It's so true. I also use the term unique. Such a nice poem... Congrats on your win, Gregory. Gregory Richard Barden December 22, 2018 at 8:16 PM Thank you so very much, Kaveesha - blessings to you - PLEASE accept my apologies for not thanking you properly until now, I am so far behind on things. Blessings to you for a happy holiday, my friend! :-) <3

John Hamilton November 19, 2018 at 11:41 AM John said it well, you are blessed, and we are blessed to have you on this site, congrats on a fine win, glad you decided to stay! Gregory Richard Barden December 22, 2018 at 8:15 PM I am the blessed one, my friend, to have friends like you! Many thanks to you, Brother! :-) PLEASE accept my apologies for not thanking you properly until now, I am so far behind on things. Blessings to you for a happy holiday, my friend!

Jan Allison November 13, 2018 at 3:18 PM Absolutely love it Greg and the ending hits home I can say I Italy relate on a personal level and also through working with autistic children:-) Hugs Jan xx Gregory Richard Barden December 22, 2018 at 8:14 PM Thank you so very much, Jan, this one means a lot to me personally ... blessings, Dear friend, and thank you for your work with autistic children - awesome! :-) <3 Gregory Richard Barden December 22, 2018 at 8:14 PM PLEASE accept my apologies for not thanking you properly until now, I am so far behind on things. Blessings to you for a happy holiday, my friend! :-)

Line Gauthier November 12, 2018 at 6:35 PM Back with much deserved congrats, Gregory. Gregory Richard Barden November 13, 2018 at 5:03 AM Thank you very much, Line! :-) <3

John Lawless November 11, 2018 at 7:31 PM And we are blessed to have you here on the soup...been called a lot of things in my life.....not sure if "unique" was one of them.....thanks for participating in the contest Greg Gregory Richard Barden November 13, 2018 at 5:01 AM Thank you, thank you for my wonderful placement, John, I'm so pleased you liked my poem, and honored to be on a list with such amazing writers ... this was a very enjoyable project, and I so appreciate you making your contests so challenging - that's what pushes us to grow and (hopefully) improve. I've been so blessed by folks like you here at The Soup, and this comment has helped me decide on renewing my membership in December. There really is no better site on the web, and it's all about the PEOPLE here, and the friendships I've made. Blessings! :-)

Carole Duet November 10, 2018 at 1:31 AM This is just fabulous...fabulously written with a wonderful understanding of the creative soul. I've always been "different" too but no one has ever made me feel as good about that as this poem has, Gregory. Thank you. Gregory Richard Barden November 13, 2018 at 4:51 AM Oh, you're very kind, Carole, and I am so thankful for your sweet comments and friendship ... you are talented and one-of-a-kind, created with unique and extraordinary gifts! Please don't ever feel anything BUT good about being "different" ... besides, "status quo" is so boring!! ;-) Blessings, my friend! <3

Andrea Dietrich November 5, 2018 at 5:32 PM geeez, another brilliant write from you. I had no CLUE how to do this contest and probably I won't even try!! Gregory Richard Barden November 6, 2018 at 2:25 AM Yeah, I had trouble finding my compass with this one, so like usual, I turned it inward, (although that doesn't always work well - lots of muddle and mess in there, lol). Many thanks, My Friend, I'm pleased that you like this one! :-) <3

Line Gauthier November 4, 2018 at 9:25 AM Wow. I know I'll be revisiting this gem when the winners are announced. A FAVE for me. Gregory Richard Barden November 6, 2018 at 2:24 AM That's very kind of you, Line, that would be nice, but I never count on such things ... these wonderful comments are the true prizes. Blessings and thanks to you, Friend! :-) <3

Arturo Michael November 4, 2018 at 4:42 AM Amen...Definitely blessed...You must do what you must...All the best Gregory Gregory Richard Barden November 6, 2018 at 2:22 AM Thank you so much, Arturo ... the best to you as well, my good friend! :-)