Welcome to Poetry.com!

Poetry.com is a collaborative platform for poets worldwide, offering a vast collection of works by both renowned and emerging poets. It's a community-driven project that serves as a hub for poets to share their works, receive feedback, and connect with like-minded fellow poets.

Explore our poetry collection by navigating through subjects, using alphabetical order, or search by keywords. You can contribute a new poem, share your thoughts and rating on existing works, listen to poems with voice pronunciation, and even translate pieces into a variety of languages, both common and uncommon.

Rate this poem:5.0 / 6 votes

Lori A. Powell 1962 (Saint Mary’s PA)

Often times, ok, maybe once a day
there will be someone who will say
“I don’t care.”

Well I’ve done I don’t care
and it doesn’t get you anywhere.
It leaves you just sitting there with nothing.
Then they say,
“I’m ok, I don’t need anything.”

So my reply
as subtle as can be
will look them in the eye
and say these words simply,

I don’t know anyone
who doesn’t need anything.
What a miracle that would be.

What were you expecting
for someone to care?
Must you be aware
if that’s how you feel then
why say anything?

Those words do not reflect
in the way that you act-
No worth,no value, no self respect.

Say what you mean if you dare.
Mean what you say if you don’t care.
The only way to react to that
is not to care right back.
That’s why it leaves you with nothing.

If it was for a million dollars
would that change your mind?
A smile, a hoot, a holler?
To care would be too kind.

No form of expression.
No gratitude will be there.
Don’t bother asking you
because you don’t care.

You may say words you don’t mean
while others may be hurting.
Surely you care about something,
yet you’re standing there with nothing.

Perhaps, in the moment, you are perfectly content.  
And the words you said you really meant
Some sort of self development
In the state of being independent
Those words are not always received as they were meant.

I don’t know anyone
who doesn’t need anything

About this poem

As we become adults , we have our set ways. We have our own beliefs. Sometimes when things don’t go our way; when others don’t see things the way we do, it becomes frustrating. So much that we argue about it. It may get to the point to where we simply don’t care. Is that a sign of giving up or giving in? Only you can answer that. It can be perceived 2 different ways.

Font size:
 

Written on February 01, 2024

Submitted by musclegirl on May 12, 2024

1:32 min read
106 Views

Lori A. Powell

I enjoy writing. I’ve written 2 children’s books. “Les Lobster” and “Stars are everywhere” I live in the forest where the river meets the ocean. Sometimes it’s easier for me to write than to talk to others. Ironically, I used to be a switchboard operator. I write because it seems right to write. Plus it keeps my mouth from getting into trouble. more…

All Lori A. Powell poems | Lori A. Powell Books

7 fans


Translation

Find a translation for this poem in other languages:

Select another language:

  • - Select -
  • 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
  • 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
  • Español (Spanish)
  • Esperanto (Esperanto)
  • 日本語 (Japanese)
  • Português (Portuguese)
  • Deutsch (German)
  • العربية (Arabic)
  • Français (French)
  • Русский (Russian)
  • ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
  • 한국어 (Korean)
  • עברית (Hebrew)
  • Gaeilge (Irish)
  • Українська (Ukrainian)
  • اردو (Urdu)
  • Magyar (Hungarian)
  • मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
  • Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Italiano (Italian)
  • தமிழ் (Tamil)
  • Türkçe (Turkish)
  • తెలుగు (Telugu)
  • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
  • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
  • Čeština (Czech)
  • Polski (Polish)
  • Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Românește (Romanian)
  • Nederlands (Dutch)
  • Ελληνικά (Greek)
  • Latinum (Latin)
  • Svenska (Swedish)
  • Dansk (Danish)
  • Suomi (Finnish)
  • فارسی (Persian)
  • ייִדיש (Yiddish)
  • հայերեն (Armenian)
  • Norsk (Norwegian)
  • English (English)

Discuss the poem I don’t know anyone who doesn’t need anything with the community...

6 Comments
  • Vixility
    What I love about this poem is the realness of its subject matter and the rhythmic cadence used to express it. The poet clearly put a lot of effort into the production of the piece … well done!
    LikeReply5 hours ago
  • musclegirl
    Thank you.
    LikeReply9 hours ago
  • alanswansea18
    You definitely have talent you should keep on writing.
    LikeReply9 hours ago
  • Kfoxy1411
    This is a beautiful depiction of self and what one goes through , the emotions, the battle inside, the battles outside. Truly stunning piece.
    LikeReply19 hours ago
  • lauriesero4480
    Say what you mean if you dare. ." Great line " I love it.
    LikeReply1 day ago
    • musclegirl
      thanks. Now if I can say that to their face it would be even better!
      LikeReply24 hours ago
  • LatinX
    Great poem!
    LikeReply2 days ago
    • musclegirl
      thank you. So many people are like that. Letting go applies to everything in life. So my new saying or reply to others is, “Let it go”
      LikeReply 21 day ago
    • lauriesero4480
      May you find the courage to let out. Speak loud girl. Say what's in your heart.
      LikeReply23 hours ago

Citation

Use the citation below to add this poem to your bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"Poetry.com" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 14 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/>.

Become a member!

Join our community of poets and poetry lovers to share your work and offer feedback and encouragement to writers all over the world!

May 2024

Poetry Contest

Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
17
days
3
hours
37
minutes

Special Program

Earn Rewards!

Unlock exciting rewards such as a free mug and free contest pass by commenting on fellow members' poems today!

Browse Poetry.com

Quiz

Are you a poetry master?

»
Lewis Carroll wrote: "You are old father William, the young man said..."
A "and you seem to have lost your sight"
B "and your eyes have become less bright"
C "and your hair has become very white"
D "and you're going to die tonight"

Our favorite collection of

Famous Poets

»