In the poem “Lost in the shadows”, the author seems to present to us an inside view on his life and the struggles he may face on a day-to-day basis. The author uses phrases that show he may have been in a very powerful position at a point in his life, such as “try to save the world and be blamed, do nothing and be blamed” and also “hopeful I won’t be bashed for trying what no one else could do”. These phrases along with others depict that the writer may have seen himself as some sort of Superhero who believed he was lost and alone in the world. With his use of rhetorical questions and choice of words, he garners interest and draws the attention from readers to get them to step into his shoes and see his struggle, hopeful that he may be accepted into society again. There is also contrasting statements made within the poem where the author sometimes contradicts himself, for example, with the statement “stronger than all but weaker than most”. In that one statement, it shows the contradiction where if he is stronger than all, he can’t be at the same time weaker than them. This statement can also represent the poem and the authors portrayed situation of being hopeless and in a dark place.

Side note: the poem “Lost in the shadows” is one of the imitation poems I did. I pasted it below….

Am I blind to the world,

Or is the world blind to me?

Awakened with such power

And no knowledge about its uses.

Try to save the world and be blamed,

Do nothing and be blamed

What should I do, what should I do

Stronger than all but weaker than most

Am I alone in this world,

or are there people like me?

Guess I may never know

But I’m hopeful.

Hopeful for the best,

Hopeful I’m not alone,

Hopeful that I’m able to touch one’s heart

And be recognised for my effort,

Hopeful I won’t be bashed for trying

What no one else could do.

Step into my world

And see what it’s like

Could you survive a day,

Or would you shrink away and disappear into the sunset?

When am down, build me up

Because when you’re down, I’m always there for you.

Don’t hate, appreciate.

I understand the good I’ve done

May have caused more harm than should

But you won’t understand the pain it feels

To be alone in this world

Even when there are others, countless others out there

Again, don’t hate, appreciate

For without me

we would all vanish.