Failed Experiment
Trial and error
Evaluate, assess
Which version of me
This society accepts
To conformity I succumbed
Conceded, gave in
Only to find it’s a
Failed experiment
© 2016 Maria. All Rights Reserved.
In response to dVerse’s Open Link Night and Shapeshifting 13 #70 KICKOFF: This week, in exactly 26 words, your challenge is to write a story or poem inspired by the image above (credits to Kahn & Selesnick).
DoodleScribbles 
September 9, 2016 at 11:24 am
This is amazing!
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September 10, 2016 at 1:25 pm
Thank you dear! 😘
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September 9, 2016 at 11:34 am
I hear ya!! Very well written and haunting image. So relatable. I felt every word.
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September 10, 2016 at 1:25 pm
A lot of us could relate to this indeed. 😅 Thank you, MW!
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September 9, 2016 at 4:46 pm
Yes, many of us do try to conform only to find it was useless to do so and we should stick being our true selves. Thought provoking.
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September 10, 2016 at 1:22 pm
Aye, aye to that. But before doing so, one must recognize one’s true self from those other versions. Right?
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September 11, 2016 at 5:51 am
yes, and that brings up the question of us being pliable and changing all time. Like chameleons we can change with the surroundings. Who really does know their true selves when we have to adapt in order to grow?
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September 12, 2016 at 6:11 pm
Hmm… hmm.. That’s something to ponder. I guess, poetically speaking, we will always leave a piece or a part of ourselves in the people and things that we have come across in life.
But even saying so, this remains a mystery to me.
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September 12, 2016 at 9:12 pm
One of the big questions in life. Isn’t it great that your writing can bring up so much thought and discussion 🙂
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September 13, 2016 at 3:49 pm
Truly. And yes, I’m so happy to read everyone’s opinion with regards to matters like this. 🙂
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September 9, 2016 at 4:59 pm
the photo is just haunting! your words are fiercely real! our society has a lot to say about “us”. And the best way is to be yourself, in any way. ❤
Great. Great. Piece. Dearie! ❤
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September 10, 2016 at 1:08 pm
Sabi nga ni Colbie Cailat,
You don’t have to try so hard
You don’t have to give it all away
You just have to get up, get up, get up, get up
You don’t have to change a single thing
❤️💋✌🏿️
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September 13, 2016 at 7:08 am
and i just sang what you wrote. haha
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September 13, 2016 at 3:40 pm
and I continued singing ~ ^^
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September 13, 2016 at 5:34 pm
sample! sample!
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September 9, 2016 at 5:04 pm
Beautifully haunting ❤
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September 10, 2016 at 1:02 pm
Thank you, Sanaa. 😘
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September 9, 2016 at 6:25 pm
Conform and submit to society… failure. Very spooky words.
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September 10, 2016 at 12:31 pm
Oooh… Spooky..
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September 9, 2016 at 7:28 pm
Conforming… sometimes we don’t have a choice do we… this seems to be chillingly close to world events at the moment.
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September 10, 2016 at 12:26 pm
I guess, in general, it helped maintain balance and order in the society. But at a personal level, one needs to know up to what extent should one conforms.
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September 9, 2016 at 7:35 pm
The close is a chilling conclusion. Good poem Maria!
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September 10, 2016 at 12:09 pm
Thank you, Grace. It’s a lingering thought I’ve been having for quite sometime…
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September 9, 2016 at 7:47 pm
This so so true!
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September 10, 2016 at 12:05 pm
Happy to know a lot of us here share the same thoughts. 😊
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September 9, 2016 at 9:19 pm
I love that you combined two prompts in one brief poem. Well done!
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September 10, 2016 at 12:04 pm
Thank you, Mel. Glad you enjoyed this one 😊
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September 11, 2016 at 1:37 am
You’re welcome 😊
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September 9, 2016 at 9:28 pm
There is no true-self. We are many selves — and we mutually create each other, so best we can do is to decide who to hang with and who to value as we make each other. “Society” is inescapable and we are always unstable. Fun poem.
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September 10, 2016 at 10:58 am
I couldn’t agree more, Sabio. What we have is an endless trial and error of creating and re-creating ourselves. There is no true self- maybe, maybe not. I am yet to conclude my stand on that. Nonetheless, thank you for the insights. I really appreciate it. ☺️
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September 9, 2016 at 10:16 pm
I absolutely love your poem Maria! It really is an experiment, isn’t it, the way we try to see if and how we fit into this world, and changing ourselves depending on how society sees fit. Which is really just the heartbreaking thing, because why should we change for society? Why can’t society change to accept us?
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September 10, 2016 at 10:15 am
I agree, Jade. If only it was that easy. I have tried these experiments countless times, I guess I still do. Looking back, aside from trying to fit in and wanting to be understood, these experiments were also our way of self discovery. Would you agree?
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September 11, 2016 at 12:33 pm
I absolutely agree. Ultimately, I think these experiments result in us figuring out what kind of people we are and how we fit in (or not) in the world. And isn’t that the point of it all? Discovering and being content with who we are? Maybe these experiments aren’t failures after all 😉
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September 12, 2016 at 6:35 pm
I guess not after all… 🙂 But there really are times when I find it frustrating that I have to adjust and tiptoe my way. Or worse– lose myself in the process. *sigh*
P.S. You updated your gravatar! Sooo happy. It’s like meeting you for the first time, Jade. 😊<3
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September 13, 2016 at 3:45 am
I agree, it’s frustrating, but it’s also how we learn. How would you know what kind of person you want to be, until you know what kind of person you’re not? 🙂
P.S. Yeah I did, I have a whole post about the new profile photo LOL ~> https://jademwong.wordpress.com/2016/09/09/re-introducing-me/
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September 13, 2016 at 3:44 pm
“How would you know what kind of person you want to be, until you know what kind of person you’re not?” ~EXACTLY! ❤
I've read it and I'm throwing confetti your way. ^^
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September 9, 2016 at 10:18 pm
Interesting thoughts. But sometimes in spite of ourselves, we do have to conform.
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September 10, 2016 at 10:09 am
I agree.. I guess it all boils down to knowing to what extent we need and must conform..
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September 9, 2016 at 10:59 pm
A great poem Maria. I think it is only when we stop fighting and trying to conform that true living begins.
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September 10, 2016 at 9:52 am
I am yet to grasp the true meaning of life or when is it that we truly live. Conformity is inescapable but to what extent? Hmm…
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, D.
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September 10, 2016 at 6:40 pm
A lot to ponder Maria, I agree.
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September 10, 2016 at 12:18 am
Wonderful!
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September 10, 2016 at 9:48 am
Thanks PJ! Enjoy the weekend 😉
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September 10, 2016 at 10:44 am
Thank you Maria! You enjoy yours too!
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September 10, 2016 at 11:15 pm
Giving in/conforming is indeed a failed experiment. For we have nothing to offer this world if we are all offering the same thing.
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September 12, 2016 at 6:14 pm
On that note, I agree with you Bryan…
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September 11, 2016 at 8:37 am
To conform or not to conform? My thoughts are far from radical but I do believe that authenticity is the key. I was once suicidal when I was not myself, authenticity and gratitude for what I really am is what ultimately set me free.
Just my two cents . Not sure they even make sense haha.
Thanks for sharing. Eli.
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September 12, 2016 at 6:24 pm
Oh, really? Suicidal in a literal sense? Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Eli. And I’m glad to have found your blog here. I can see how authenticity has set you free. Looking at your paintings, they do scream of gratitude and self expression.
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September 12, 2016 at 7:27 pm
Indeed. Quite literally. Many thanks for your kind words. I’m currently capturing my adventure from the darkness to the light in a book. Hoping I can help people avoid where I’ve been one day.
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September 12, 2016 at 8:36 pm
That’s quite a stage in life. I’m glad to hear you didn’t just simply got over darkness and forget it but instead used that phase to inspire others. 😃
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September 13, 2016 at 7:16 am
That’s it. I think I can turn my pain into a positive by helping others. That is a real gift 👌🏼
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September 13, 2016 at 3:27 pm
Sure is. 🙂 This world needs more people like you nowadays.
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September 13, 2016 at 7:07 pm
Well I hope to be one of the helpful people. 🙂
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September 11, 2016 at 11:10 pm
Lovely poem! Great take on the prompt.
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September 12, 2016 at 6:28 pm
Thank you. I appreciate you dropping by. 🙂 🙂
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September 12, 2016 at 8:25 am
Nicely done! And yes, conformity is a losing game.
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September 12, 2016 at 6:28 pm
Yes, indeed. Thank you Joy. 🙂
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September 13, 2016 at 2:23 am
Very good Maria! I love it!
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September 13, 2016 at 3:45 pm
Thank you, Vashti! Happy to hear that. 🙂
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