Real, Vulnerable, Myself, Now

Free Verse: Vulnerability

Philosophically, and ideally,
I believe I should be myself,
Which makes me feel vulnerable, unsafe, and insecure.

Practically, and actually,
My philosophical ideal is eclipsed by fear.
So, I protect myself
By hiding my identity, or disguising it with a false identity
To feel safe, secure, and invulnerable.

But, what is my identity?
It's how I feel and act - now, 
Not what I was was yesterday,
Not the story someone wrote for me,
Not what I plan or hope to be tomorrow,
Not what my driver's license or resume says.
It's how I feel and act - now.

There's my homework
Let my actions and outward expressions
Honor what I feel is right
Which is me - 
Now.


Diamante: Vulnerability

Real - 
Vulnerable, Unsafe
False - Safe, Invulnerable
I must be real -
What I feel
Is right - 
Now
Copyright © | Year Posted 2024


Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 7/5/2024 8:07:00 AM
Hurray David!! See! I truly love your work! Without knowing who wrote this, I chose it as a winner! Congratulations!! Your message is so relatable and real! I was excited to learn about this form...Diamante... as I'd never heard of it b4. Impressive choice and execution of the form! So glad you entered the contest! Xoxo
Login to Reply
Crandall Avatar
David Crandall
Date: 7/5/2024 4:48:00 PM
Yay! Thanks Crystol! I'm glad you liked it! and thanks for a creative contest to get me to try a new form, and to think about things. I was a bit embarrassed by this one, didn't seem super poetic. I used your prompt to kind of used it to work out some things that were going through my head.
Date: 6/13/2024 9:55:00 AM
It has to be within yourself. Taking charge is exhilarating. This is a great, enjoyable and liberating poem. It is a help.
Login to Reply
Crandall Avatar
David Crandall
Date: 6/13/2024 7:01:00 PM
Thanks Hilda - I was kind of working out some ideas for myself, but I might have forgot the poetry!
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter