Arts & Entertainment

The Friday Poem: American Dream (nightmare)

Each Friday Benicia Patch will publish an original poem. If you would like to submit your own poem please send it to benicia@patch.com.

American dream (nightmare) by Bobby Richardson

Dreams are a disease to the poor boys spirit
killing
listen, you can't hear it
spreading malignantly all over his soul
devouring his hopes
his achievements
his goals
So what, he will live to be a happy old man
but what of his dreams
he's an American


Following is commentary by Benicia Patch poetry maestro Jeff Burkhart:

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Dear readers, let me introduce you to my friend Bobby Richardson. Bobby’s is an American story from an American perspective. In his poem, “American dream (nightmare)”, he delves into the "American Dream" and begs the question, “Is it real? Is it truly accessible to us all or is there a hidden caste system that holds back those of us that are not “In the club.” Happiness comes and goes and should not be mistaken for success, but the pain of injustice lives and burns in our hearts and minds forever.

Well I submit that Bobby is succeeding in giving honest voice to social justice, equal opportunity, human dignity and individual accomplishment. Can we achieve the American Dream?

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Yes we can!

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