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.

[Bre]

I like your expression of feeling.

[DCT ponderings]

So i found myself drawn from beginning to end. I know these plastic people well. But I loved when you switch to describing yourself in the fourth stanza. The elastic heart that Embraces everything....as a lonely child grieves for lost imagination.Then when you wrap the grieving plastic boy in paper and place him in a box it conjured up an image of a little boy with his toy solider. Almost as if be tucking him away you could protect him and yourself from this cold plastic world.

[Felicity's Eve]

Sometimes it makes me quite sick to thing of these arrogant, plastic people. I think that imagination is important and this poem really emphasizes that. :)

Love it and love the message :)

[Shaun Payton]

yes it is just odd to me, imagination is fun! being kind and caring is a gift and a reward better than any monetary gain. thank you Nora for the review!:)

[Felicity's Eve]

:)

[Shaun Payton]

I can smile all day long :)

[Frieda P]

Tangy observations on those inflexible ignorant and arrogant group of people,

Sized by cold heart, who killed her wonders I wonder?

I wonder too, it could not have always been that way...what is the deciding factor, you goes plastic and who gives a damn?....very nice social rant!

[Shaun Payton]

Thanks Frieda, appreciate this fine review. often times we allow others to influence us so much we lose sight of our true selves.

[Rita L. Sev]

This is a fine commentary on the lack of depth in so many people - your words "ungoverned by man's decency..." lay it out early in the piece, and you proceed to unfurl well placed examples of this. Good write!

[Shaun Payton]

:) Thank you Rita. It was sadly easy to write in that ive seen too many without even just a ounce of decency or just common courtesy.

[Rita L. Sev]

It's the same way everywhere, sadly. This is why we embrace true substance so fully!

[Shaun Payton]

ah wise you are yes..:)