All of these poems relate to the American Journey, having a focus on the downside of having an American Dream (losing sight of reality and false hope), but there are some bright sides too(hope and inspiration)
Money
I make you feel stable
And contribute to your glee
I buy you nice things
I’m great can’t you see
I make some struggle
And I give some power
I allow your heart to do
Whatever it desires
But I also make people angry
and break apart homes
I ruin marriages
And make some feel alone
I can cause a lot of problems
But can fix a lot too
Am I worth all of the extra shifts
To buy things that don’t matter?
Or should you be at home,
Tucking in your daughter?
Your vision of me is a matter of opinion
But don’t get your head wrapped up in me,
It’s time to start livin’
Analysis Money can cause good things and bad things to happen. People get their heads wrapped up in money and constantly buying things with it and it makes them lose sight of reality and let their lives slip past them. Many think that material things are what show we are successful and the only way to get those material things is to buy them with money. While thinking that money is what the world revolves around, people have false hope that they will automatically be happy which isn't entirely true, hence having lost, or losing sight of reality.
Trapped
Our minds are trapped
As if they are in a barred cage.
Forced to believe that a rectangle paper
Can bring all the joy in the world
We are influenced by others to lose sight of reality
And believe that everything should be handed to us.
Not having to work a day, just to be given everything we want
This is not authentic
You have to work
And know that you’ll be faced with challenges.
But we have our minds trapped
As if in a barred cage
Believing in things that aren't realistic
And influenced to sit around while your life passes you by
Never working a day
Analysis: Society has taught us to believe that money is the only means for happiness. We think that we are entitled to things and that we shouldn't work for anything, which is entirely unrealistic. While many think that they are entitled to reach their Dream, or have a lot of money, they have lost sight of reality and have false hope. They have false hope because they think they are entitled and hope that they will get everything they desire, when that isn't true.
Dreams
Dreaming is a way for our minds to escape,
To fantasize about things that could never happen.
We dream to find release
To have hope
But what happens when we face reality?
We have regrets, constantly surrounded with “what-ifs”.
Sometimes Dreams give us false hope
If you don’t work for them
You shouldn't expect to reach them.
The world is at your fingertips
And anything is possible.
Dreams encourage us to work and hope that one day
You'll have everything you need
All because of your Dreams.
Analysis Our Dreams have caused us to have hope and encourage us to do the best we can. Anything can happen if you put your mind and heart to it. But if you don't work, nothing will happen, you are losing sight of reality, because the reality is that you MUST work in order to achieve your Dream and get things that you desire. Dreams give us hope, if we are willing to work towards them, and false hope if we don't work for it and think that everything will fall in our hands.