can you see me?
For the Tatoo This Line challenge
take a break from your busy world
look into my eyes
can you see me?
but to you
I'm just another face in the crowd
that guy you see in the grocery mart
or standing in line for a bank teller
just another nobody who yearns to be somebody
do you see me?
do you know what I feel when I return your curious gaze
maybe you're just like me
lost in the hassle of the day-to-day
wishing someone would pay attention
giving an unrehearsed smile
locking eyes in recognition and acknowledgement
then I might see you and you might see me
even if only for a moment or two
but no one looks anymore
no one notices the world outside the bubble of me
or the gated realm of us
I'm reduced to pouring out my heart on the page
a scribbler of dreams and lies
maybe you will recognize me in the white spaces
dancing abstractly through my words
or maybe you'll see a reflection of yourself
in my imagined worlds
can you see the yearning stirred like ashes in my poesy
or the heartbreak in the quiet cadence of my verse?
I no longer dream of fame
I no longer dream of glory
I write to tell my story to an audience of one
even when veiled by gilded metaphor and gossamer symbol
my life hidden in plain sight
are you listening?
can you see me yet?
then you already understand
I don't want to be remembered
I want to be known
About the Creator
John Cox
Twisted teller of mind bending tales. I never met a myth I didn't love or a subject that I couldn't twist out of joint. I have a little something for almost everyone here. Cept AI. Aint got none of that.
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Bruce Lee and The God of War: Kuan Ti
It starts with love.. The Power to the God Of War and Wealth Walk into a Chinese restaurant (even in Oklahoma, USA), a Chinese police station, a kung fu martial arts studio or even a Chinese temple and you often see a red faced warrior holding a heavy quan-do (spear like weapon).
By WILD WAYNE : The Dragon King4 days ago in Chapters
Comments (16)
Excellent poem, so many gems. I really like: “ I no longer dream of fame I no longer dream of glory I write to tell my story to an audience of one” & the final conclusion! Connection is far more precious than fame etc.✅
😮🤩 What a showstopper of a line, John. I agree with Rommi, the best lines that I've read so far in this challenge, are the simplest but contain the most power. Your closing line is no exception! I hope this places. Best of luck!
Everybody just wants to be seen 😀
Oh my word...this is a winner to me, John. Fell more in love with the poem with each passing line- was completely enchanted by "veiled by gilded metaphor and gossamer symbol," and then was floored by that closing line. Rich wisdom, and heartbreaking artistry: this one's the real deal. Thanks for sharing, John!
Heyyyy John! My commenting ability was revoked on 15 May and only now I'm able to comment. That's why I've only been reading and hearting your stuff without commenting.
This is another of your wonderful poems, John. Great work! good luck in the challenge.
Oh, I simply love everything about this. The line you highlight is fabulous. Also love this one, but not for a tattoo, obviously, "no one notices the world outside the bubble of me or the gated realm of us." Well done!
Such a pleading in this and yet it's so tender too! Really beautiful work, John! The final lines are so powerful but You've got a few other stunners in the mix too! I liked "just another nobody who yearns to be somebody" and "I write to tell my story to an audience of one"
Well-wrought, John! The ultimate lines are simple and superb, and speak of that ache to be known by the other, which we might surmise to be the will of the one working through its parts. I've often thought that the ache only manifests to render reunion all the more intense, and spent many years of my life in a cycle of departure and reunion. Does the solitary mystic experience something in the end, as the seeker of knowledge, which the seeker of companionship forgoes... and vice versa? It seems so to me; yet what each of us experiences in that final journey home must remain a mystery to all but the individual, despite our speculations.
Honestly, you could highlight all these lines for the tattoo challenge. The meaning behind this poem is a powerful one, John, and well written. "I write to tell my story to an audience of one" - this line legitimately made me stop for a moment. 😭 Good luck in the challenge.
Though only from a distance & limited by these lines shared between us, yes, John, I see you & hear you. And I most definitely feel you in this one.
So gorgeous. I relate to this a lot
I really felt this too. Everyone wants to be seen, I think. And remembered. Great work, John and good luck in the challenge!
I like this line: 'a scribbler of dreams and lies' I can see this as a tattoo
Heartfelt words, sir. ⚡💙⚡
This is beautiful, I can really feel the ache of wanting to be seen.