A poem on Utopia

Hallo =) Here is a poem i found about one the major themes in The Giver, a utopia.

Long ago and faraway

where all good tales began

in a land of plenty

not marred by thinking man

No poverty or sickness,

no anger, greed or hate

Time was not the master

and folk were never late

Utopian land of dreams

Heavenly place to some

To one man it seemed tedious

“A paradise for the dumb.”

“Not for those who question

or rise to seize the day,

No challenges to stretch their minds”

was what he’d like to say.

Others seemed content

in the endless glow of sun

but the wise man prayed most earnestly

that it would come undone

He grew tired of endless day

and longed for the contrast of night

because ‘Only after darkness

can they hope to see the light.’

He looked upon the people

grown complacent, soft and fat

“Nothing more and nothing less.

What’s a ball without a bat?”

There’s no competition

When everyone agrees

Surrounded by perfection

what could they hope to see?

A better world is found

in balanced black and white

Growth can only happen

through challenges in life.

Hearts and minds grow stronger

when they bravely bear the load

How can one develop

with only one choice of road?"

This was written by Chanti.

I think this is a beautiful poem which clearly illustrates how a utopia actually has many dystopian elements. If life was a still repetative and restricted path then there is nothing new! Sameness would be like water standing too long, till it becomes stagnant and all life within it ceases to exist. This is the same with life, variety is the spice of it. The poem also says that only after darkness can we look forward to light. Hence in The Giver , people do not experience hardships so they never how it is to taste the sweet fruit of success! In the book people do not even know what it is to be different and outstanding because everyone lives the same life as everyone else.The poem also says that growth can only occur through challenges in life, hence in Jonas's world there are no challenges so how do people grow wiser?If everything is already pre planned for us where is the need to think and learn to choose wisely? Overall this poem clearly states that an utopia has lots of dystopian elements hence we should learn to appreciate this free life we live and anticipating all the ups and downs we face, for we should not stagnate ourselves just like in Jonas's world(:Look forward to a change iin our everyday life and not be oblivious to even human emotions like the world in The Giver =)