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.


haleyspruitt said...
on Nov. 10 2010 at 2:11 pm
You say you are a writer and you spelled peak wrong?

on Oct. 15 2010 at 6:55 pm
LostInTime SILVER, Charlotte, North Carolina
8 articles 0 photos 7 comments

Wow, I loved this poem. 

Particularly because I've been studying u.s history and feeling rather patriotic as of late ; ) 


elizrhea said...
on Sep. 23 2010 at 7:00 am
elizrhea, Milton, Vermont
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment
I really liked this poem. It's so true.

CH-girl said...
on Aug. 15 2010 at 4:48 am

I come from China,you tell me an American dream,its very beautiful.I hope learn more about the country,although my English is not very well``````

COME ON


on Aug. 10 2010 at 9:49 pm
mcpanicfanic SILVER, Cincinnati, Ohio
8 articles 0 photos 65 comments
This is truely deep. I dont say that a lot either. This poem is amazing! Captivating! And very true!

on Jul. 19 2010 at 9:10 pm
waywithwords GOLD, Forest Hill, Maryland
16 articles 0 photos 32 comments

Favorite Quote:
~~Isn't it funny how the most important things in life aren't things?~~

i love it. it really makes you think

on Jul. 19 2010 at 3:09 pm
jcampgirl PLATINUM, New Caney, Texas
34 articles 1 photo 54 comments

Favorite Quote:
when you lie to someone you tell them thay are not worth the truth

wow love this a lot

on Jun. 27 2010 at 2:01 am
livsinthecity SILVER, Toronto, Ontario
6 articles 13 photos 40 comments

Favorite Quote:
Love means never having to say you are sorry.
-Erich Segal (in Love Story)

wow a truly beautiful work...i wonder how you do it

on Jun. 5 2010 at 11:49 am
poeticjunkie93 GOLD, Chesterfield, Missouri
11 articles 0 photos 3 comments
Very well written, I'm not a huge American patriot but none the less I cant deny the great quality of the poem and your word choice. Much of it is mostly true just about people in general

on May. 14 2010 at 8:58 pm
funnythewayitis SILVER, Redmond, Washington
8 articles 0 photos 21 comments
really true. i love it

Ashee97 said...
on May. 14 2010 at 3:11 pm
wow, this is amazing! where do you come up with such great poetry? i actually sung this as i was reading it, i thought it could also make a beautiful song. again, this is just sooo amazing! i am canadian myself though, but that dosent stop me from loving this poem to bits. do keep up the excellent work, you excell at writing poetry! :) awesome job!

on Apr. 22 2010 at 10:55 am
shelterisland GOLD, Montclair, New Jersey
14 articles 0 photos 175 comments

Favorite Quote:
-Biting's excellent. It's like kissing only there's a winner."-Doctor Who, The Tardis

this was beautiful!!

on Mar. 31 2010 at 1:35 am
SolvoAnimus BRONZE, Jamaica, New York
1 article 0 photos 29 comments

This is what I  think of when I think "America"...

Its a beautiful thang!


on Mar. 9 2010 at 10:58 pm
michelleTan GOLD, Bandung, Other
12 articles 0 photos 7 comments

Favorite Quote:
Ordinary isn't sexy ;)

it's so coooooooooool!!!

on Feb. 15 2010 at 9:12 pm
alayapoetgirl BRONZE, St. Louis, Missouri
4 articles 0 photos 92 comments

Favorite Quote:
Life is hard; but it's harder if you're stupid. -John Wayne

When you get the chance please check out my opinion essay on animal rights/ vegetarianism

on Feb. 15 2010 at 9:11 pm
alayapoetgirl BRONZE, St. Louis, Missouri
4 articles 0 photos 92 comments

Favorite Quote:
Life is hard; but it's harder if you're stupid. -John Wayne

I adore this poem, it is extremely well-written. It withholds extraordinary powers! lol, seriously. You are an amazing poet, and this poem has great truth to it as well

on Feb. 15 2010 at 5:01 pm
pampalooga PLATINUM, Natick, Massachusetts
30 articles 0 photos 20 comments

Favorite Quote:
"We all can't be heroes. Somebody has to sit on the sides and clap as they go by." "In the end, they're just more words."

Wow, this is really great! It has a lot of meaning behind simple metaphors and standards of American life. Check out my stuff if you have the chance!

on Jan. 24 2010 at 8:24 pm
RenaissanceMan SILVER, Westland, Michigan
7 articles 0 photos 14 comments

Favorite Quote:
I was born. It was born. So it began. It continues. It will outlive me. People whisper, stare, giggle. Their eternal privilege. My eternal curse-Joyce Carol Oates

Well done. The truth in your poem is astonishing. I must humble myself in asking that you read my work if you have time. If not I understand. Again job well done.

on Jan. 2 2010 at 9:44 am
Shirley_R_K SILVER, Liberty, South Carolina
9 articles 0 photos 11 comments

Favorite Quote:
But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.
-1 Peter 3:15

I like it, it has nice message, but a couple parts that just don't flow as nicely as I would like, but still, it had such great meaning and depth, that I like it, and say Keep up the good work! My writings are pending, so once they are up here, would you take a peak? Thanks

on Nov. 19 2009 at 8:40 am
ariwrites94 GOLD, Deltona, Florida
17 articles 4 photos 59 comments

Favorite Quote:
"At the touch of love everyone becomes a poet." ---Plato

wonderful poem! you are a talented writer!!! keep up the jaw-dropping work :) oh yeah if you have time could you maybe read, comment, and rate my poem called "Sensitive Am I?" Thanx. :)