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Poems - Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre)

Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre)

by badmalthus

In the arms of regret
how often do we flee
our freedom?

We look for excuses
& reasons so we
can escape the hook
of responsibility
while pretending
to be something that
we are not.

Afraid of the dark
& what lurks deep
within us
we hide in the crowd
surrendering
our true selves
in order to appease
the common herd.

Here I stand alone
amid the absurd
inventing values
in this meaningless
world where my
decisions and actions
count for everything.

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Tags: Existentialism, Sartre, Freedom

"Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre)" | Login/Create an Account | 42

The comments are owned by the poster. We aren't responsible for their content.

Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by BrokenWordsPoet on Saturday, April 09, 2011 (08:06:25)

in my hand my pen,
speaks the conscious,
consciousness of faults,
freedoms of my youth,
a lack of common-sense,
aged I comprehend,
where all events take place,
time buries all men,
salvation in a pen.

Always Harry thanks for saving me a place to comment, salvation in our art. Be well my friend... BWP... James...

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by badmalthus on Sunday, April 10, 2011 (04:03:14)

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by anna9 on Saturday, April 09, 2011 (09:42:05)

knowing the self is something .....Badmal,

i esp. love the last stanza,

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by badmalthus on Sunday, April 10, 2011 (04:04:24)

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by omegapaf on Saturday, April 09, 2011 (10:36:39)

reminds me of my middle name. which is " i dunno!, i'm just making this shit up as i go along!! ".
i've nibbled at the hook every now and then, but never swallowed it.
i think you are like me harry.....the dark and i are old friends.
- got your e-mail. get back to you later - paul allen sartre.

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by badmalthus on Sunday, April 10, 2011 (04:05:16)

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by butterflyzrfree on Sunday, April 10, 2011 (23:23:23)

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by badmalthus on Saturday, April 16, 2011 (00:26:09)

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by ken2shoes on Saturday, April 09, 2011 (17:16:44)

I used to be a fan of Sartre - back in the day - yes, I agree and I am glad you resurrected his name and wrote a fine poem about him

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by badmalthus on Sunday, April 10, 2011 (04:06:25)

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by induce on Sunday, April 10, 2011 (00:58:30)

Hey Harry, waiting for the art shows up here on Sunday, which contain less and less 'art' I enjoy each week, your poem is a gramatickle~boost! of enticement...moving...life,

andye

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by badmalthus on Sunday, April 10, 2011 (04:07:34)

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by Ozymandias on Sunday, April 10, 2011 (01:58:08)

It sure looks like you understand Sartre well. An excellent encapsulation of his philosophy of life. I was about to say I particularly like S1, but then I realized I particularly like all the other stanzas too!

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by badmalthus on Sunday, April 10, 2011 (04:09:54)

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by Mayo on Sunday, April 10, 2011 (06:18:36)

Harry, you know you sweet talk me when you bring up Sartre. I may have to write a piece about de Beauvoir. As a philosopher that oft times considers myself a cross between the existentialists and the American pragmatists, I really dig this piece. Big kisses at you for keeping philosophy alive on GP and in poetry.

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by badmalthus on Saturday, April 16, 2011 (00:29:44)

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by Craigd741 on Sunday, April 10, 2011 (16:04:51)

I've not heard of Jean-Paul Sartre before. After a quick google and read he sounds like an interesting character. Perhaps I can't comment on this write as accurately as the others but I can say I enjoyed the philosophical tone and the great depth this piece has. Top write as always mate.

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by badmalthus on Saturday, April 16, 2011 (00:31:20)

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by butterflyzrfree on Sunday, April 10, 2011 (23:20:34)

Love it, but 'Here I stand/sit...?' Is that a deleberate cliche? It is, isn't it?

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by butterflyzrfree on Sunday, April 10, 2011 (23:26:19)

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by Ilan on Monday, April 11, 2011 (11:39:07)

Who can't relate to your wonderful poem
Harry apart from robots, a poem for
humankind,

Really great Harry!

Kind rgs
Ilan

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by badmalthus on Saturday, April 16, 2011 (00:32:54)

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by maryanns on Friday, April 15, 2011 (13:21:51)

Nice easy rhythm and flow to this oh so true poem. Blending in... conformity for the sake of safety for the crowd senses danger when an Angus joins the herd. Personally, I prefer to graze upstanding in my own skin... Really enjoyed this condemnation of the norm. Cheers, my friend... Mary Ann

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by badmalthus on Saturday, April 16, 2011 (00:34:10)

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by i_monster on Friday, April 15, 2011 (14:37:46)

Pure Genius!
Well delivered, wisely composed!
Deep and impactful!
10 Stars!

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by badmalthus on Saturday, April 16, 2011 (00:38:49)

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by wordsmithwannabe on Saturday, April 16, 2011 (01:05:13)

i'm a philosophy geek and Sartre has always been a fave of mine to read, though we don't always see eye to eye. oh to have been a fly on the wall during his visit to Che Guevara with Simone...brilliant stuff. and your poem is no less, Harry, i thoroughly enjoyed reading this!

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by badmalthus on Saturday, April 16, 2011 (01:57:13)

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by FuchsiaFestival! on Saturday, April 16, 2011 (17:07:29)

Too true Harry; we escape our consciousness while looking for ways into the void different than our own. We are never free until we make decisions based off of 'real' responsibility.

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by badmalthus on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 (03:59:04)

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by Tamara on Saturday, April 16, 2011 (17:07:50)

Excellent, Harry. Sartre would be proud of you.

Your words in this poem have such depth and they give the reader the opportunity to linger over each strophe and then re-read the verses because they are so well-written.

We look for excuses
& reasons so we
can escape the hook
of responsibility

I loved this strophe.

Best,

Tamara

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by badmalthus on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 (04:00:21)

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by Kinode on Thursday, May 05, 2011 (02:13:49)

A compelling and deeply meaningful piece of poetry. The third stanza really stood out for me - the dark and shadow of our being. Knowing and learning from this part of ourselves can enrich our perception and awareness. Fear is a powerful force - and keeps the masses in line. Walking one's own path can be a painful, but rewarding experience. Thanks for the read. Julian

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by badmalthus on Saturday, May 07, 2011 (03:02:38)

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by micsir on Thursday, June 02, 2011 (00:05:29)

Thanks Harry, Your words are at once elegant and meaningful. Funny to say, but Sartre being french and with his philosophies and all, always got me singing,'The farmer in the dell'. 'The cheese stands alone, the cheese stands alone,...' and ask to myself, Why? Laughing

All the best mate, Mike

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by badmalthus on Saturday, June 04, 2011 (03:25:17)

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by rondo on Friday, June 24, 2011 (09:40:30)

enjoyed your rhymes Harry...peace

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by badmalthus on Saturday, June 25, 2011 (02:45:25)

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by starstruck13 on Sunday, February 12, 2012 (21:27:15)

harry you never cease to amaze me this is truly a good poem..thank you for your comment on THE RIPPLE EFFECT

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by badmalthus on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 (18:22:21)

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by liarbird on Thursday, February 23, 2012 (03:07:23)

G'day Harry...
Do these two sets of capitol letters fit in this great poem of yours Harry at this time...JG...KR...it appears to me that you presented something from nostradamus.
Thanks once again Harry.
Lindsay

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Re: Condemned to be free (for Jean-Paul Sartre) (Score: 1 )
by badmalthus on Sunday, February 26, 2012 (02:25:13)

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