Ode to the Apple by Pablo Neruda,

This century made performance unavoidable.

everybody is curating themselves constantly now.

personalities.

opinions.

faces.

pain.

and I think it has created a strange loneliness —

being deeply visible while rarely feeling deeply known.

people are branding themselves before understanding themselves.

and maybe that is why so much modern poetry revolves around identity.

people are trying to locate authenticity

inside environments built around presentation.

I think many young writers are exhausted.

not because they lack creativity,

but because they are trying to remain human

Am i naive or just hopeful ?

Am I paranoid or just doubtful ?

Am i defensive or just cautious ?

Am I obnoxious or just joyful ?

Perhaps i am one or the other,

Perhaps I am both or another.

Perhaps the truth will hurt,

Perhaps it's just uncomfortable.

I'll prevail, that's for sure,

Something I can't argue.

But it's just hard to accept,

That's I'll live after the fact.