The Plastic People

Plastic men, they must be?
Unstimulated by poverty
Ungoverned by mans decency
Plastic men counting property
Rich in forms and ways
Since greeds infancy.

Yes they are plastic men
Smoking pipes exhaling critiques
On life and how to live
Those plastic men, what do they give?
But also, the plastic women
By their sides, shaving points.

And we the living low
And we the living high
And we the in between
Know luxury to be a cool day
A joyful childs spirit, infectious
Precious, and leaves change and fall
All around the plastic people.

My elastic heart however,
Embraces everything, for unchanging
Would be ignorant of those leaves
As a lonely child grieves
For lost imagination

And we the barely getting by
And we the better off than some
And those elders, and those shelters,
Surely volunteers are not plastic recycled?
I replied, I'd eat hot or cold to suffice
Their welcomed sacrifice

Yes plastic people they are
With no heart nor spirit
Nor true inspirings, just
Two lumps of coal with their tea
And a Hatter who has lost his spunk.

If you care not for others
You naysayer may be, a plastic being
In no better a doll house than I
But with plays and songs about lovers
I find hope is tied to a moon tide
And the waves crash all around
Those plastic beings.

Grieving boy approaches me
Holding a seashell, he listens to the sea
Though there's none I can see.
He says,'Sir you have quite the imagination'

I know he is plastic
And I wrap him in paper
And tuck him in a box
I smile and say,'Thank you ma'am, have a nice day'
She smiles not, she's a plastic being,
Sized by cold heart, who killed her wonders I wonder?

They are the plastic people
Beings for themselves
Kept within bitter bindings
Placed on shelves
But still I hear my plastic boy,
You have quite the imagination.

Reviews

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Wow...this is quite a piece to bite off in terms of poetic expression. i have to say, though, that you handled the write with good intensity and thought throughout. I never felt as though I wanted to give up on the read, and I felt stimulated by the ideas.

The idea of plastic people is interesting in concept...the world is filled with them, in a metaphorical sense. I wrote something similar to this, though not nearly as detailed.

But still I hear my plastic boy,
You have quite the imagination -- great lines!

[Shaun Payton]

I saw a old lady, musta been 80-90 years old, she was having trouble with coutning money, coins and such, and people in line moaned and the cashier rolled her eyes. Not one kindly asked her if she needed help..That sparked the thought "look at these plastic people"

I appreciate your review so very much. After I wrote it I feared it was either too long or lost its intensity, but I just couldnt edit it over the years.
Oh I'll be by to read some of your poems soon!:)

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

I get you...people today, especially where I live (in CA), are extremely "plastic"...

[Shaun Payton]

Some get plastic to look younger lol Such a shame it is. Especially when the ignorance and uncaring isba part of some peoples nature.

[one sky]

Satirical it is...indeed plastic is not genuine and can be easily broken.
We have many of them around us, so the best thing is to be careful...
I have a nice read. Something relevant...Keep it up!

[Shaun Payton]

I see a light:) Yes, thank you Light. :)

[one sky]

You're welcome.

[Shaun Payton]

:) Im growing fond of WC

[one sky]

Why? Are you new here? I have joined many writing sites but this is really the best. So happy writing to both of us!

[Shaun Payton]

I had some issues kept me away for a bit. I love writing and reading:)

[one sky]

.............Good luck :)

[Shaun Payton]

I'll need it lol :) I'll read some of your works soon:)

[Sami Khalil]

I love this oratory form of poetry. A felt like a politician or guru of sorts shedding light on those plastic men and their ill ways and sick souls and you're with truth and intensity using words as swords and balms...Excellent...:)...............

[Shaun Payton]

Yes swords to.cut away their lies and deceptions for all to see. Thanks Sami. An oratory form, never thought of that.

[Sami Khalil]

Wow. I felt it in so many places...Keep them swords sharp...Welcome...:).....................

[Shaun Payton]

I shall keepem sharp haha:) Thanks Sami, makes time here worthwhile.

[Sami Khalil]

Yep. So true..:)...............

[Shaun Payton]

☀⭐🌙⛄❄☔⚡🌊🐌🐞🎁👻

[Sami Khalil]

☺☻♦♣♠•◘○...............

[Angi]

I love that you have an elastic heart amongst all the plastic people. I see them every day! I want to shake them and make them see, too.

'But still I hear my plastic boy,
You have quite the imagination.'

These lines give some hope. Some. Angi~

[Shaun Payton]

There is always a glimmer of hope. Yeah they are everywhere Angi. Thank you for reviewing:)

[Quill~]

I think of something or someone extremely superficial and desensitized ...symbolizing greed such as credit cards-"American Express Black". (I sound like an ad)
Who needs to spend that much money anyway? lol
Enough of my banter... love the way this piece spins into your ingenuity. Well done. :)

[Shaun Payton]

Superficial and desensitized yes Quill. An ad lol No one needs to spend that much money. Thank you Quill very much:)

[Quill~]

:) my pleasure.

[Shaun Payton]

:)

[Shaun Payton]

Quill!! I miss Quill lol

[SyberRose]

Nice write about plastic people...people who don't pay attention...and I love the boy listening to the seashell as I can remember doing that as a child...another captivating write from you Shaun...Rose:)

[Shaun Payton]

:) I enjoyed that part, playing imagination while the seashell is to ear. Thank you Rose!:)

[Britannia]

Absolutely love the line... 'My elastic heart'.

[Shaun Payton]

Thanks there Britannia:)

[nobody]

In another comment, your story about the elderly woman in line counting her change is one I've also encountered more than once. Reading your thoughts on plastic people brings the whole issue of humanity into question. Is there life inside the plastic or just fear and justification? I felt this through the entire poem and I love the line from the plastic boy.

[Shaun Payton]

Yes it happened, I was stunned at the "me, me, me," of their attitudes. There is life as long its about them they are fine lol Greed, selfishness, is to me no way to live. Thank you Alexandra for the good review:)

[UponTheBrink]

I found myself unable to pause reading until the very end and found that I was uttering the words as I read them. I thoroughly enjoyed this in all its simplicity and complexity.

[Shaun Payton]

Awesome! Thanks uponthebrink:) I appreciate the review very much. Its a fun one to speak out loud.

[UponTheBrink]

It is indeed. My pleasure. ^-^

[Shaun Payton]

I will be by to read, ima lil slow sometimes, but I keep my word.

[UponTheBrink]

Well, thank you. Don't feel obligated to, but it is greatly appreciated. I'd recommend "In the Morning's Glory" or "In my Madness" if you do choose to read. :)

[John Phoenix Hutchinson..]

This poem doesn't let up at any point and remains constant throughout not something you often see especially in the longer than usual poems on here. Good write.

[Shaun Payton]

Thanks John!

[Bre]

you can really relate to the loss of feeling In people.

[Shaun Payton]

Thanks Bre. Yeah its sad to me that people just become uncaring, always for themselves. Not all people of course, but there are too many like that.