Battle Between Hope and Reality
The Poem
In chambers of my mind where dreams take flight,
Like golden birds against a crystal sky,
Reality stands guard with iron might,
While hope's sweet whispers teach my soul to fly.
My dreams, like morning dew on withered grass,
Evaporate beneath truth's burning gaze,
Yet hope, a phoenix rising from the mass
Of broken wishes, sets my heart ablaze.
Between these titans locked in endless dance,
Truth bleeds to hope, and hope to truth returns,
In life's great theater of circumstance,
The eternal flame of possibility burns.
Explanation
This poem conveys that life is a stage where dreams, reality and hope interact in a never-ending
dance. While reality often crushes our dreams, hope always resurfaces, giving us the strength to
keep fighting and believing in better possibilities.
Imagery
Visual
golden birds against a crystal sky: Depicts free and brilliant dreams, with golden birds
flying in a clear sky. This creates an image of freedom and limitless potential.
morning dew on withered grass: Shows the contrast between the fresh morning dew
and the withered grass, symbolizing fresh hope faced with a reality that is no longer
thriving.
The flame of possibility burns: The burning flame symbolizes the possibilities that
continue to burn, bringing images of hope and potential that are never extinguished, even
under difficult circumstances.
Tactile
iron might: Depicts a harsh and unwavering force, creating an image of an
unchangeable, harsh, and restrictive reality.
burning gaze: A sharp and painful view of the truth. The word “burning” carries the
sensation of burning or stinging that comes with facing a harsh reality.
heart ablaze: This image depicts the passion and fervor that burns in the heart, giving the
impression of a strong feeling and filled with positive energy, along with hope that
continues to burn.
Kinesthetic
dreams take flight: Depicts the movement of dreams flying high, symbolizing freedom
and the potential to expand without limits. It depicts aspirations rising into the air.
titans locked in endless dance: Two great forces (hope and reality) moving in an eternal
dance, interacting with each other and spinning endlessly. This image creates a sense of
ongoing movement.
phoenix rising: Symbolizes resurrection after destruction. The phoenix rising from the
ashes depicts positive change and recovery from adversity.
Figurative Language
Metaphor
golden birds against a crystal sky: Depicts dreams that are free, bright, and hopeful,
like golden birds flying in a clear sky. It creates an image of freedom and high
aspirations.
Reality stands guard with iron might: Reality is described as a sturdy guard that
cannot be shaken. It depicts a reality that is harsh, unchangeable, and full of restrictions.
hope, a phoenix rising: Hope is compared to a phoenix rising from the ashes,
symbolizing resurrection after failure or adversity, a symbol of positive change that can
occur even under the worst circumstances.
Personification
Reality stands guard: Reality is personified as a firm and active guard. It describes a
reality that not only exists, but also acts to guard and limit dreams.
hope whispers: Hope is given human nature by whispering, symbolizing the way hope
comes softly and subtly, giving encouragement even in adversity.
Truth has a burning gaze: Truth is personified with a sharp, burning gaze, depicting
how the truth can be poignant and painful when faced.
Symbolism
morning dew: Themorning dew symbolizes a very fragile dream, which is easily
evaporated or lost when faced with harsh reality, like dew evaporating in the sun.
eternal flame: Theeternal flame symbolizes the possibility and hope that never goes
out, symbolizing the opportunities that continue to exist even under difficult conditions.
Titans: Titans symbolize the two great forces that face each other, hope and reality. It
depicts the great and never-ending struggle between the two forces.
The women behind the glasses
The poem
Crystal windows guard her soul,
Like prisms catching light so bold,
Her eyes dance bright behind the glass,
As storms and sunshine swiftly pass.
Steel-rimmed strength around her sight,
Bears dreams that burn in darkest night,
Where paths twist like tangled vines,
Her smile, like morning glory, shines.
These lenses frame a spirit free,
Standing tall as mountain tree,
Each scratch tells tales of battles won,
Of tears transformed to laughing sun.
Explanation
This poem depicts a woman wearing glasses, but the meaning is deeper than just an accessory.
The poem uses glasses as a symbol to describe a woman's protection, experience and inner
strength. The glasses not only serve as a visual aid, but also as a metaphor for the way the
woman sees the world, navigates challenges, and guards her soul.
Imagery
Visual
Crystal windows guard her soul: The image of “crystal windows” protecting the soul
gives the visualization of clear and transparent glasses. This reflects how the character's
soul is protected and remains pure.
Like prisms catching light so bold: The word “prisms” catching light implies a
multicolored light effect, giving the impression of beauty and radiance.
Her smile, like morning glory, shines: A smile compared to “morning glory” creates the
image of a smile that is bright and dazzling like a flower blooming in the morning.
Tactile
Steel-rimmed strength around her sight: The impression of steel-rimmed strength
surrounding the sight creates the sensation of a solid and hard texture, indicating strong
protection.
Each scratch tells tales of battles won: Scratches on the lens depict scars or past
experiences that can be “felt” through the rough texture of the scratches, indicating
toughness.
Bears dreams that burn in darkest night: the word “burn” where passionate dreams are
kept alive even in the midst of hardship and darkness. It evokes an emotional impression
of perseverance and burning hope.
Kinesthetic
Her eyes dance brightly behind the glass: “Dancing” eyes depict eyes that are full of
energy and life, giving a sense of playful and dynamic movement behind the lens.
As storms and sunshine swiftly pass: The swiftly passing changes of storms and
sunshine depict the fluctuations of emotions or life's fast-changing experiences.
Where paths twist like tangled vines: The image of a path that twists like tangled vines
gives the impression of a life journey full of twists and challenges, as if the reader is
following a circuitous path.
Figurative Language
Metaphor
Crystal windows guard her soul→ The metaphor here likens one's eyes to “crystal
windows” that protect the soul. It illustrates that the eyes can reflect and guard the inner
depths.
Steel-rimmed strength around her sight→ This metaphor likens the strength of one's
sight to steel. It suggests strong determination and resilience.
Simile
Her smile, like morning glory, shines→ Simile comparing a smile to a bright “morning
glory” flower. This shows that her smile is like the beauty of a flower that is blooming
and full of light.
Paths twist like tangled vines→ This simile compares the winding path of life to the
tangled tendrils of a plant, describing the complicated and challenging journey of life.
Personifikasi
Her eyes dance brightly behind the glass → Personification gives the eyes a human
trait, which is the ability to “dance”. This shows that her eyes are alive and expressive.
Storms and sunshine swiftly pass→ Personification is given to “storms” and “sunshine”
which are described as passing quickly, as if they have the ability to move like humans.
This implies changes in mood or emotions that come and go.
Symbolism
Lenses frame a spirit free→ Symbolism is used here where “lenses” symbolizes
perspective or the way one sees the world, while “spirit free” symbolizes a free spirit.
Tears transformed to laughing sun→ Tears transformed into a “laughing sun”
symbolizes the transformation from sadness to happiness.
Let gones be bygones
The Poem
Old wounds lie soft as winter snow,
Like autumn leaves, I let them go,
Each hurt dissolves in morning light,
As stars release the grip of night.
These chains of memory, once steel-bound,
Now melt like dewdrops on the ground,
While peace floats gentle as a dove,
Each breath transforms old pain to love.
My heart, a garden freshly tilled,
Where bitter seeds, now sweetly stilled,
Rest quiet in forgiving earth,
As grace brings new mornings birth.
Explanation
This poem is about acceptance and healing from inner wounds and transformation through
forgiveness towards peace. Through the process of letting go of bad memories and pain, one can
find peace and love within. The poet illustrates that with forgiveness and gratitude, a wounded
heart can be restored and renewed, like a garden prepared for a better harvest.
Imagery
Visual
winter snow: Depicts something clean, calm, and cold. This winter snow symbolizes
peace and tranquility after going through a difficult time.
autumn leaves: Falling autumn leaves represent the process of releasing or letting go of
something old (such as pain or trauma). Autumn is a symbol of change and the end of a
cycle.
morning light: Morning light symbolizes new beginnings, hope, and awakening. It
shows that after darkness (pain and suffering), comes a new healing light.
garden freshly tilled: The image of a freshly hilled garden shows that the heart or soul
has been re-prepared, ready to plant new seeds after difficult times. It symbolizes growth,
renewal, and new potential.
Tactile
soft as winter snow: Depicting softness and relief, symbolizing how old wounds become
softer and less painful over time, like soft snow.
chains... melt: Melting chains depict liberation from the shackles of pain or painful
memories. There is a feeling of release from pressure, like the relief when a heavy load is
released.
Kinesthetic
let them go: This phrase describes a gesture of letting go. The poet lets go of past pain,
memories, and suffering, like leaves that are allowed to fall and detach from the tree.
peace floats: Peace is described as gently floating, showing how it begins to replace pain
slowly and naturally. It is a picture of the transition from suffering to tranquility.
Figurative Language
Metaphor
chains of memory: Painful memories are likened to steel chains that bind the soul. This
shows how memories can hold a person in misery, like shackles that are difficult to
remove.
heart, a garden freshly tilled: The heart is compared to a freshly hilled garden, ready to
be planted with new seeds. This metaphor symbolizes preparing oneself for growth and
change, after old wounds have been cleansed and released.
bitter seeds, now sweetly stilled: Bitter seeds are likened to wounds or bad memories
that were previously destructive, but have now been “sweetly stilled”. It depicts the
transformation from pain to peace and acceptance.
Simile
soft as winter snow: This simile describes how an old wound now feels softer and less
painful, like soft snow. It shows that a previously hard and painful wound has now
softened and become more acceptable.
like autumn leaves: Old wounds and memories are likened to fallen autumn leaves. This
describes the process of letting go of things that are no longer needed or that are obsolete,
letting them fall and go.
gentle as a dove: Peace is likened to the gentleness of a dove. Doves are a symbol of
gentleness and tranquility, so this simile emphasizes the gentle and soothing sense of
peace after going through suffering.
Personification
stars release the grip of night: The stars are depicted as if releasing the grip of night.
This depicts the transition from darkness to dawn, showing how pain or suffering (night)
eventually disappears with the coming of light (healing).
peace floats gently: It depicts how the feeling of peace comes quietly, enveloping the
heart with gentleness.
Symbolism
morning light: Morning light symbolizes new beginnings, hope, and healing after
darkness. It shows that after suffering, there is always a chance to start again with fresh
hope.
Garden: A garden is a symbol of growth, renewal, and potential. The heart being likened
to a hoeing garden shows that despite the wound, the heart is ready to receive new seeds
that can grow into something good.
Dove: The dove is a symbol of peace, purity, and healing. The gentle peacefulness of a
dove symbolizes inner calm after facing difficult times.
