We all have a desire to conform,
To be the same as every furrow ploughed.
To move to a position near the norm,
To fit in, not to stand out in the crowd.
To be the odd one out is what we dread;
We all prefer to pass and not to fail.
When somebody shakes a dissenting head,
We cure them by banging down the nail.
It’s too hard to live as an outsider;
There arise so many complications.
Your gap from the herd grows ever wider;
Doubt gnaws away at your foundations.
And yet I think it is those who are not allowed to fit in who have that desire to conform and be with all the rest, whilst those who are already amongst the throng and not allowed to be otherwise in fact have a strong desire to be different and that's why hammers are needed.
Interesting discussion and comments. Thanks, everyone, and to Stephen for the like.
I am not by nature a conformist but am fascinated by the pressure to conform. I spent some time in Japan, where they say that the nail which sticks up will be hammered down.
There seems to be some inevitability about the process. I recently saw 'Saturday Night and Sunday Morning', where the rebellious Arthur Seaton seems at the end to bow to the inevitable and accept marriage and a new-built house. What else could he do?
In the end, perhaps breaking the mould requires you to conform in some way. Even 1960s hippies set up structures and hierarchies.
But let's keep trying to push the boundaries, even if we can't cross them.
Perversely, Stephen, I've always taken immense enjoyment from breaking the mould.
I think the mere fact of thinking in poetical terms puts us outside the vast majority Stephen, and engenders a sense of comradeship although I suppose the same feelings could accompany other groups, most of which are mainly conventional however. I rest my case. Carry on regardless..
Ray
Stephen,
A poem of enquiry about conformity which invariably robs people of their identity. Over many years of conformity I have become a fierce opponent of this philosophy. The individual is more important than the collective. To oppose conformity is to express freedom of thought.
A thoughtful poem and thank you for it
Keith
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Stephen Gospage
Tue 22nd Dec 2020 17:24
Good point, Aviva. Yes, I suppose you have to first conform to understand why you want to rebel.