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Walt Hardester, click here
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You Don’t Know Me
by
Walt Hardester
Monday, January 26, 2009
Rated "G" by the Author.
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So I'm different? Gimme a break, I write poetry.
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I am diversity,
I think on many levels at once.
I live on many levels.
I can relate on many levels.
I can see you.
I can see your rationalizations.
Trying to justify your beliefs about me.
I see you feeling that your assumptions are right.
I see you assume wrongly,
You don’t really know me.
I have learned many things from observation and experience.
I know you.
You think you know me,
But I have known many like you before.
Always feeling correct in your assumptions.
You assume wrongly.
Take away your misguided assumptions.
Leave me alone and do not try,
To make me fit into your view of me.
You do not see me.
You see what I want you to see.
In the process, my dreams and aspirations are often mistaken for ambition,
Thought of as a desire for fame and fortune as a measure of my success in life.
Wrong thinking again,
My success comes from the doing,
Not the material things by which society measures success.
That is not me,
But only what I let you see.
I am more complicated than you will ever know.
And yet I am really very simple,
I still naively expect the best from people.
Something I always try to give others,
Honesty, caring, mindful of feelings, doing what I can.
If I make someone smile,
If I help someone understand something,
If I make a difference,
I am successful.
I want to inspire people to be themselves,
And find happiness not in wealth or power,
But the simple accomplishments we all have daily.
Helping make life better for all with wisdom,
Gleaned from observation and experience.
I live and think on many levels,
I am happy with who I am.
Understood or not.
It makes no difference
To me, you see.
'Cause Ya just don’t,
Really know me.
© 2009 Walt Hardester
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| Reviewed by Nance O'Donnell |
5/1/2009 |
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This touched my heart Walt.
Beautiful meaning with words conveyed
WOW.....guess I need to continue on writing.
Thanks for the inspiration
Nance :) (POF) |
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| Reviewed by Phyllis Jean Green |
2/17/2009 |
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Who doesn't feel this way? Sometimes it seems as if people
deliberately misunderstand, but the fact is, while we may be able to fit into someone else's shoes, they don't really fit, and can't be made to. Each foot is different. Everything is!! Seems to be human nature to put people in boxes, label them neatly, and stick 'em on a shelf. We really are individuals. We really do not fit any preconceived notion of what a person our age and with our background [which who-can-know], gender,
creed, race, education, 'cet-'cet-'cet, 'ought to' be. But to really look and listen requires time and thought. So guess what happens?
Out comes the box and in we go. Sad and frustrating, but. . .almost said 'is what it is.' SO overdone. Anywaaaaay, thank you for this
highly thought-provoking piece. Sounds like you have your ducks in a row! Know what deserves to be given priority, and go for it. Good for you!! Peace, Phyllis
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| Reviewed by Kate Burnside |
2/10/2009 |
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| TOTALLY LOVE THIS, WALT! Has me beaming from ear to ear and the pic is just right... I know how this guy feels! Yep, you're right... we may not know "you" at all... but we know that your words here have 100% succeeded and do all that they set out to: clever you! Sadly, I don't think I'll make Atlanta this time round, but I'm sure gettin a taste for this globetrottin lark... so maybe in the not too distant future? See you soon! :)) xx |
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| Reviewed by Regis Auffray |
2/3/2009 |
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Assertive and honest; I love it, Walt. Thank you. Love and peace to you,
Regis |
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| Reviewed by Jon Willey |
1/31/2009 |
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| we circulate the stage adorned in our personal ruse -- to lead the thoughts we wish others to perceive -- it is the nature of who we are, mankind -- Walt, I very much enjoyed reading your poem -- it is one that the reader can mull around and dig deeply into, test it against his/her persona, ideals -- much peace, joy and love -- JMW |
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| Reviewed by Michael Guy |
1/30/2009 |
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| Hey I'm with you! I've felt like that "odd penguin" in the photo too lately - too much. So WE write poetry... |
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| Reviewed by Rebekah Rosie Lang |
1/29/2009 |
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I understand. Thank you for writing this poem.
Love and peace,
Beckers |
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| Reviewed by Rebecca Lerwill |
1/28/2009 |
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Just you - just the way we love you.
:-)
r~ |
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| Reviewed by Georg Mateos |
1/28/2009 |
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You are so different that you look like me!
Georg
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| Reviewed by Karen Palumbo |
1/27/2009 |
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Awww, actually he is a cutey! Many times different is better, like an awakening from the daily dulldrum....
Be always safe,
Karen |
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| Reviewed by Tinka Boukes |
1/27/2009 |
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Uh-huh...well said Walt!!
Love Tinka |
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| Reviewed by D Johnson |
1/27/2009 |
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Walt, you are not going to believe this but as I read your poem, in the background the old song "You Don't Know Me" wowwzie, what a coincidence.
BTW, your poem is right on the mark... well done!
Cheers,
Dan |
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| Reviewed by Rose Rideout |
1/27/2009 |
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So true for so many of us Walt. I love this write that you share. We don't know you personally but we sure love the you we have through your words. Thank you for sharing.
Newfie Hugs, Rose |
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| Reviewed by Mary Lacey |
1/27/2009 |
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Walt,
No, I don't know you. But I gather you're a very sincere caring person. And one heck of a poet.
Mary |
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| Reviewed by Ed Matlack |
1/27/2009 |
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| Great self portrait as if your happy with the self, the hell with the rest of the world...you look good in your brown coat in the picture...ed |
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| Reviewed by m j hollingshead |
1/27/2009 |
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| well said |
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| Reviewed by larry linville |
1/27/2009 |
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Haven't seen writings from you for a while but I am always blessed when I do. I won't know you but I do know you always give me things to think about.
Larry |
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| Reviewed by JASMIN HORST SEILER |
1/27/2009 |
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| This is a rich tapestry woven of, and with God, yes most don't know "HIM" including me, the best! Jasmin Horst |
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| Reviewed by Karen Vanderlaan |
1/27/2009 |
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| i love this--very nicely written |
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| Reviewed by Liana Margiva |
1/27/2009 |
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| Very nice!!!!!!!!! Liana Margiva |
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| Reviewed by Andre Bendavi ben-YEHU |
1/27/2009 |
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I like this composition... "You Don't Know Me" makes its clear message in poetic grand.
In respect,
Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU |
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| Reviewed by Sandie May Angel-Joyce |
1/27/2009 |
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This is one that I can sooooo related to. I feel some people in the den only see what they want to see and assume badly of me; they think they know me but yet they really don't know me. Whenever given the chance they would post poems to purposely upset me to make me lose my cool and look bad to others; thus losing some of my friends in the process. How coniving and wicked these so-called Christians can be??!!
This kind of people are nothing but trouble-makers, they would pick a topic and then think it was what I had gone through in life, judged me and placed sins on me that only they themselves have imagined. Their assumption of me was totally wrong and yet they would repost poems that would upset me - again and again; and they call themselves Christians. *Give me a break!*
Real Christian and believers of God do not purposely post something to hurt another's feelings; God only want them to HEAL others!!!
I had enough of the fake Christians trouble-makers here on the site!
A wonderful poem that speaks my mind so well!!! This one takes the words out of my mouth!!!
Sandie Angel :o) |
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| Reviewed by Deborah Plante (Reader) |
1/27/2009 |
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Love it! I feel you Walt
Blessings, Debby |
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| Reviewed by stan nassano |
1/26/2009 |
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Nice write Walt,i definetly know the feeling,count me in as someone who appreicates you for being you,
stan |
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