Poetry Analysis

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# The Cost of Comparison

Original Poetry

Translation

# The Cost of Comparison

They advised me to observe my surroundings,

They told me to look around,

to evaluate my life

to measure my life

against more noticeable voices,

against louder voices,

quicker successes,

faster victories,

more impressive moments

shinier moments

that were never meant for me.

that were never mine to live.

So I did.

I compared my start

I compared my beginning

to someone else's progress.

to someone else’s middle.

My subtle growth

My quiet growth

to another's spotlight.

to another person’s spotlight.

My wounds

My scars

to their edited perfection.

to their filtered perfection.

And gradually,

And slowly,

without realizing,

without noticing,

I lost myself.

I abandoned myself.

Comparison is a thief with gentle hands.

Comparison is a thief with polite hands.

It doesn't shout when it takes.

It does not scream when it steals.

It murmurs.

It whispers.

"You are falling behind."

“You are behind.”

"You are inadequate."

“You are not enough.”

"Look at them."

“Look at them.”

"Why not you?"

“Why not you?”

And the real tragedy isn't just jealousy.

And the tragedy is not only envy.

It's forgetting

It is forgetting

that different lives

bear different burdens.

carry different weights.

Some people were born with confidence.

Some people inherited confidence.

Others were born with survival.

Others inherited survival.

Some began on peaks.

Some started on mountains.

Others began in valleys

Others started in valleys

with incomplete maps.

with broken maps.

Yet I blamed myself

Yet I punished myself

for not arriving simultaneously.

for not arriving at the same time.

I lost peace

trying to keep up.

trying to keep pace.

Lost happiness

Lost joy

trying to impress strangers.

Lost self

Lost identity

trying to become

what others would applaud.

what applause would approve.

But healing started

But healing began

the day I stopped chasing shadows.

the day I stopped racing shadows.

The day I realized

The day I understood

that purpose can't be duplicated.

that purpose cannot be copied.

That fulfillment is unique.

That fulfillment is personal.

That a flower doesn't compete

That a flower does not compete

with the sun.

Now,

I celebrate others

I clap for others

without doubting my value.

without questioning my worth.

I appreciate

I admire

without diminishing.

without shrinking.

I develop

I grow

without haste.

without rushing.

Because my life

was never intended

was never meant

to resemble theirs.

to look like theirs.

And perhaps freedom is this:

And maybe freedom is this:

To finally look in the mirror

without questioning,

without asking,

"Am I ahead of everyone else?"

“Am I ahead of everyone else?”

But instead questioning,

But instead asking,

"Am I becoming myself?"

“Am I becoming myself?”

from the book titled 'The Cost of Comparison' by Luka Zulu

Explanation

This poem by Luka Zulu explores the theme of comparison and its detrimental effects on self-worth and identity. The speaker reflects on the societal pressure to measure one's life against others, leading to feelings of inadequacy and loss of self. The poem highlights the quiet, insidious nature of comparison, likening it to a thief that whispers doubts and insecurities. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing that each person's journey is unique, with different starting points and challenges. The speaker ultimately finds healing by rejecting the race against others and embracing personal growth and self-acceptance. The poem encourages readers to appreciate their individuality and find fulfillment in their own paths, rather than seeking validation through comparison.

Word Dictionary15

Word	In English	Plain (English)	Pron.
measure	assess	to evaluate or judge	mezh-er
louder	more prominent	more noticeable or attention-grabbing	loud-er
victories	successes	achievements or wins	vik-tuh-reez
shinier	more dazzling	more impressive or attractive	shy-nee-er
abandoned	left behind	gave up or deserted	uh-ban-duhnd
thief	robber	someone who steals	theef
polite	courteous	showing good manners	puh-lyt
whispers	speaks softly	talks quietly	wis-perz
envy	jealousy	desire for what others have	en-vee
inherited	received	got from ancestors	in-her-i-tid
punished	disciplined	suffered consequences	pun-isht
applause	clapping	approval or praise	uh-plawz
fulfillment	satisfaction	feeling of contentment	fool-fil-muhnt
admire	respect	look up to	ad-myr
freedom	liberty	state of being free	free-duhm

Poet & Context

PoetLuka Zulu

EraContemporary

Luka Zulu is a contemporary poet whose work often explores themes of self-discovery, comparison, and personal growth. Despite the lack of a Wikipedia page, Zulu's poetry resonates with readers seeking introspection and understanding.

View on Wikipedia

WhenContemporary period

WhyThe poem addresses the modern struggle with comparison and self-worth, reflecting on how societal pressures can lead individuals to lose sight of their own unique paths and identities.

FormFree verse

Themes & More

Themes

ComparisonSelf-worthIdentityPersonal growthAcceptance

Literary devices

Metaphor: Comparison is likened to a thief with polite hands.Personification: Comparison whispers doubts.Imagery: Descriptions of mountains and valleys to illustrate different life paths.Repetition: Use of 'lost' to emphasize the consequences of comparison.Contrast: Between different starting points in life (mountains vs. valleys).

Poetry Analysis

Back to poet

# The Cost of Comparison

Original Poetry

Translation

# The Cost of Comparison

They advised me to observe my surroundings,

They told me to look around,

to evaluate my life

to measure my life

against more noticeable voices,

against louder voices,

quicker successes,

faster victories,

more impressive moments

shinier moments

that were never meant for me.

that were never mine to live.

So I did.

I compared my start

I compared my beginning

to someone else's progress.

to someone else’s middle.

My subtle growth

My quiet growth

to another's spotlight.

to another person’s spotlight.

My wounds

My scars

to their edited perfection.

to their filtered perfection.

And gradually,

And slowly,

without realizing,

without noticing,

I lost myself.

I abandoned myself.

Comparison is a thief with gentle hands.

Comparison is a thief with polite hands.

It doesn't shout when it takes.

It does not scream when it steals.

It murmurs.

It whispers.

"You are falling behind."

“You are behind.”

"You are inadequate."

“You are not enough.”

"Look at them."

“Look at them.”

"Why not you?"

“Why not you?”

And the real tragedy isn't just jealousy.

And the tragedy is not only envy.

It's forgetting

It is forgetting

that different lives

bear different burdens.

carry different weights.

Some people were born with confidence.

Some people inherited confidence.

Others were born with survival.

Others inherited survival.

Some began on peaks.

Some started on mountains.

Others began in valleys

Others started in valleys

with incomplete maps.

with broken maps.

Yet I blamed myself

Yet I punished myself

for not arriving simultaneously.

for not arriving at the same time.

I lost peace

trying to keep up.

trying to keep pace.

Lost happiness

Lost joy

trying to impress strangers.

Lost self

Lost identity

trying to become

what others would applaud.

what applause would approve.

But healing started

But healing began

the day I stopped chasing shadows.

the day I stopped racing shadows.

The day I realized

The day I understood

that purpose can't be duplicated.

that purpose cannot be copied.

That fulfillment is unique.

That fulfillment is personal.

That a flower doesn't compete

That a flower does not compete

with the sun.

Now,

I celebrate others

I clap for others

without doubting my value.

without questioning my worth.

I appreciate

I admire

without diminishing.

without shrinking.

I develop

I grow

without haste.

without rushing.

Because my life

was never intended

was never meant

to resemble theirs.

to look like theirs.

And perhaps freedom is this:

And maybe freedom is this:

To finally look in the mirror

without questioning,

without asking,

"Am I ahead of everyone else?"

“Am I ahead of everyone else?”

But instead questioning,

But instead asking,

"Am I becoming myself?"

“Am I becoming myself?”

from the book titled 'The Cost of Comparison' by Luka Zulu

Explanation

Word Dictionary15

Word	In English	Plain (English)	Pron.
measure	assess	to evaluate or judge	mezh-er
louder	more prominent	more noticeable or attention-grabbing	loud-er
victories	successes	achievements or wins	vik-tuh-reez
shinier	more dazzling	more impressive or attractive	shy-nee-er
abandoned	left behind	gave up or deserted	uh-ban-duhnd
thief	robber	someone who steals	theef
polite	courteous	showing good manners	puh-lyt
whispers	speaks softly	talks quietly	wis-perz
envy	jealousy	desire for what others have	en-vee
inherited	received	got from ancestors	in-her-i-tid
punished	disciplined	suffered consequences	pun-isht
applause	clapping	approval or praise	uh-plawz
fulfillment	satisfaction	feeling of contentment	fool-fil-muhnt
admire	respect	look up to	ad-myr
freedom	liberty	state of being free	free-duhm

Poet & Context

PoetLuka Zulu

EraContemporary

View on Wikipedia

WhenContemporary period

WhyThe poem addresses the modern struggle with comparison and self-worth, reflecting on how societal pressures can lead individuals to lose sight of their own unique paths and identities.

FormFree verse

Themes & More

Themes

ComparisonSelf-worthIdentityPersonal growthAcceptance

Literary devices