We as Characters of Narratives

Each of us is born the main persona
in the narrative of his or her own life.
Through ever-changing atmosphere, 
supporting characters and diversity of settings, 
we help to mold the rising action of our own tale.
A great variety of characters abound in our stories.
Some of them, bright pennies tossed into existence,
spin wildly on exploits which make for 
the most gripping of preliminary chapters.
However, their denouement is hard to guess.
Others, silver dollar, sparkle too,
but in a much less compromising way.
I suppose most of us could fit into that category.
Giddily we dance through early life’s events.
Then on and on we go, unraveling our plot,
striving always for happily-ever-afters.

A smaller group, Olympian, glide like skaters
on ice. Not only blessed, they are also driven.
Their chronicles inspire us; they are gold!
Others, although colorful, when held up to the light,
they are shown as counterfeit, the perpetrators of pure fiction.
A few, by fate and nature not so blessed, may court insanity,
or at the very least, create confusion 
with their crises that seem to come unceasingly
yet often fail to find resolution. 
Possibly, if given a good polishing,
 they could be diamonds in the rough!

There are others who are the spawn of a society gone wrong.
They stalk our paths, as unfeeling as assassins.
The pages from their lives can horrify.
However, those who wield great power
are also often morally corrupt, and 
if their stories live on, it’s in infamy only.
These types of souls are nothing but 
cold, hard cash, and paper burns or crumbles
in the end.

A final group is joyless.
Given something . . . giving nothing back,
they hoard the talents God gifted them.
They wonder woefully why no one wants
to open their books to even read
the parts that once had held some promise.
For them it would be better to have been
a rusting copper penny in dread of its own conclusion
than even an evil-doer whose story titillates
and at least gets read.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2024

Poem

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Hind Avatar
January 9, 2024 at 2:16 PM
Very wise and powerful, speaks to me...
One Avatar
January 9, 2024 at 12:12 PM
I love it when you write like this.. Your poem is a rich exploration of the human experience, using the metaphor of currency to delve into the diverse stories, characters, and moral implications that shape our individual narratives. The deep approach, vivid imagery, and layered metaphors make this poem a thought-provoking and reflective piece on the intricate experiences of human existence.
Dietrich Avatar
January 10, 2024 at 6:18 PM
Thanks so much.
Empress Avatar
January 9, 2024 at 12:36 AM
This is so deep and moving dear sweet andrea, you really have an understanding of individual differences, and how different personalities and characters are and what comes with it or follows and from where too! Which also gives a bit of philosophical depth to your lines! Profound this is! One of my faves this is from you, as i love the way this flows with such truth in sheer eloquence! You’ve nailed it
Dietrich Avatar
January 9, 2024 at 9:10 AM
thanks, I hope Charlotte feels the same way about it
Schatz Avatar
January 8, 2024 at 10:27 PM
You really lay it out there Andrea. Your descriptions of the last two groups are downright frightening (and effective). You are gold. I enjoyed your haiku as well. Happy new year! - Bob
Dietrich Avatar
January 8, 2024 at 10:44 PM
Hey, thanks, Robert. Love your comment.
Beaufort Avatar
January 8, 2024 at 6:52 PM
It's so true...all the characters you describe set up the categories that people fall into. It's actually funny to boil it down to this. It makes me actually laugh how simple you make this....it could be the crowning chapter in a psychology text. Wonderful, really!!
Dietrich Avatar
January 8, 2024 at 10:45 PM
I don't know if I exactly got it right, but I do see these types of characters all around me and depicted in true crime, etc. I love psychology. Thanks, Duke.
Rodgers Avatar
January 8, 2024 at 4:39 PM
Andrea your poem, ingeniously portrays life's diverse characters in the grand story of existence. With eloquence and depth, you navigate through the various archetypes, showcasing the complexity of human experiences. Your vivid descriptions and insightful analogies beautifully capture the intricacies of individuals' paths, inspiring reflection and appreciation for the spectrum of stories that shape our world. - Blessings, Daniel
Dietrich Avatar
January 8, 2024 at 10:45 PM
Thanks for that wonderful comment. Blessings to you!
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