The American Dream | Teen Ink

The American Dream MAG

By Amy Hildreth BRONZE, Wichita, Kansas
Amy Hildreth BRONZE, Wichita, Kansas
1 article 0 photos 0 comments

It is the American Dream
What we all strive for and imagine
Indouble-wide trailers to double-wide mansions
In sprouting lakes of fake fish.
Nothing captures its essence
Unbound by time or dust or rot
The thingswe cherish still are lovingly patted
And brought through thecenturies.

It is more than a dream now
It's a reality that the millionshave made
Our heart and soul builds the heaven on earth.
A refuge for thesick,
And a shelter for the needy,
It is everything we desire.

Inthe cherry trucks and laughing children
To indolent teenagers with smokecircling
We see our dream and the actuality
It may not be perfect, but itis our heaven
And so disillusioned we conjure forth our hope.

In thepicket fences we see our childhood
In the sky we see our adulthood
And inthe middle we see our life.
Suspended, but not contained,
It is the dreamthat wakes within us all.






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This article has 80 comments.


very good poem

Kip.lu SILVER said...
on May. 5 2017 at 2:35 am
Kip.lu SILVER, Tirana, Other
5 articles 0 photos 32 comments
America #1

dslebron1 said...
on Nov. 10 2016 at 4:10 pm
dslebron1,
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment
Very good poem, I would just suggest you look over you next piece of work for any words that might have combined together.

on Oct. 19 2016 at 10:29 am
PorcelainPuertoRican BRONZE, Aldie, Virginia
1 article 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
"Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing" -Benjamin Franklin

I agree with you

on Aug. 14 2016 at 1:57 pm
DespondentPen SILVER, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
5 articles 0 photos 8 comments
I like the idea, but the lack of proper spacing made it more confusing to read, and less enjoyable.

A.Pride said...
on May. 18 2016 at 11:46 pm
A.Pride, Visalia, California
0 articles 0 photos 6 comments
"American Dream"? There is no such thing! This an idea that has been mainstreamed into our minds... it's merely a figment of our imagination.

on Apr. 26 2016 at 8:59 am
joshwawr2 BRONZE, Columbus, New Jersey
1 article 0 photos 3 comments
You did a great job using juxtaposition to show how the American dream has led to many different things for different people. Some people have taken the dream and become successful but others haven't fulfilled what they have dreamed of.

on Apr. 26 2016 at 8:49 am
rohanb05 BRONZE, Columbus, New Jersey
1 article 0 photos 3 comments
I like how this poem covers America from all angles. It shows how people value certain elements of our country, and I agree. Great job!

on Apr. 26 2016 at 7:52 am
Rogateeeeer BRONZE, Columbus, New Jersey
2 articles 0 photos 3 comments
wow this poem is really eye opening

LexieM said...
on Jan. 29 2016 at 1:36 pm
LexieM, West Grove, Pennsylvania
0 articles 0 photos 3 comments
you really captured the essence of all parts of America and not just one perspective. From the rich to the poor and just little things like a refuge for the sick. But I wonder why some of you your words are interlocked as one.

FaZe_Raggy said...
on Jan. 7 2016 at 12:15 pm
FaZe_Raggy,
0 articles 0 photos 2 comments
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

sniper1012 said...
on Jan. 7 2016 at 12:15 pm
sniper1012,
0 articles 0 photos 3 comments
hi hihihihihhhhihihihihihhihhihihihih

FaZe_Raggy said...
on Jan. 7 2016 at 12:14 pm
FaZe_Raggy,
0 articles 0 photos 2 comments
love it it is cy

aoliver BRONZE said...
on Nov. 5 2015 at 8:45 am
aoliver BRONZE, Plaquemine, Louisiana
3 articles 0 photos 3 comments
I feel like this is what America is all about. “A refuge for the sick, and a shelter for the needy.” This is my favorite line because it explains how America is our home and can pick us up when we fall down there is always something here to help us.

on Nov. 4 2015 at 12:59 pm
5MatthewJM BRONZE, Plaquemine, Louisiana
2 articles 0 photos 3 comments
I like this piece because it speaks the truth about the American dream. When you said “A refuge for the sick, And a shelter for the needy, it is everything we desire.” I thought about the poverty and sickness in the world and how it needs to change.

zoe22 GOLD said...
on Aug. 28 2015 at 11:01 am
zoe22 GOLD, Vienna, Virginia
15 articles 0 photos 8 comments

Favorite Quote:
"A drop in the ocean, a change in the weather," Ron Pope

This article is definitely marvelous. However, what I would prefer if you talk more about the core of American Dream, talking deep downn into the core of the American Dream can really enchance the tone and instead make it reminiscent.

on Jan. 15 2015 at 10:53 am
American24 BRONZE, Fountain Inn, South Carolina
2 articles 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
you get 100% if what you don't ask for

I believe that its a good poem but the real american dream you right about has more layers then one. Peal them back to get to the center then you will have a truly heart touching peom

on Nov. 22 2014 at 8:06 am
Enigmapleet BRONZE, Calicut,kerala, Other
3 articles 0 photos 10 comments

Favorite Quote:
Believe in yourself.........

POEM REALLY STANDS OUT........  

AbbeyW SILVER said...
on Oct. 2 2014 at 10:42 pm
AbbeyW SILVER, Browns Summit, North Carolina
7 articles 0 photos 4 comments

Favorite Quote:
"As a writer you have to ask yourself to dream while awake." -Aimee Bender

Awesome! I'm trying to get better and would love some constructive criticism. Would you mind checking out my work? TeenInk.com/poetry/free_verse/article/678285/Under/

on Jun. 19 2014 at 10:51 am
EmilytheBelleofA. DIAMOND, Athens, Georgia
81 articles 5 photos 1486 comments

Favorite Quote:
To love is to be vulnerable; Triumph is born out of struggle; We notice shadows most when they stand alone in the midst of overwhelming light.

I'm honored, that you shared this. Thank you; know that someone looks up to you and you are a treasure.