Student Publishing Program ::

Helene Wambe

The Issue with Insatiability: A Response to Emily Dickinson's 'Real Riches'

All the time, we see things

We feel that we should have,

Like shining keys from Tiffany’s

Or pumps from Saks Fifth Ave.

We see a headphoned kid and say,

“I want those Beats by Dr. Dre.”

Or a gadget we can clutch

Like a Droid or an iPod Touch.

But in some of us,

The desire for these things soars to the sky,

In a quest to induce envy,

Boost our social status and pride,

To fill the emptiness inside,

Or avert rejection.

However, we must realize that

These objects bring the attention ––NOT US!

Quite honestly, it’s difficult

To keep others impressed

With that which is tangible:

Material finesse.

The lust for wealth, things man has sold,

Can put a burden on our hearts

Heavier than our weight in gold

And turn our lives from sweet to tart.

Our hunger for social standing and power

Looms eerily from a darkened tower

Blocking the lights of peace and truth

From our adolescent views.

We are then compelled to strive

To covet things seen by the eyes

And suffer from the malady

Of living life materially.

The lesson: be yourself.

I hope this poem helps.

[TABLE OF CONTENTS, LHS CLASS OF 2013 EDITION]