In the dimly lit cell, the stony embrace of solitude pressed heavily upon my soul.

The cold, unforgiving walls bore the scars of countless forgotten souls, etchings of despair and defiance clawed into their rough surfaces.

Shadows danced in the corners, fleeting whispers of freedom, elusive as hope in this forsaken realm.

The metallic tang of injustice clung to the air, an invisible shackle binding me to a fate not of my making. The echoes of distant footsteps, the sound of keys jangling in the hands of my captors, reverberated through the labyrinthine passages of this wretched prison. Each step was a reminder of the world beyond desolate walls, a world that had turned its back on the truth.

In the palm of my hand, I hold a fastener divine,

With a pointed tip, secures the parts that align.

A wonder of engineering, this simple device,

With a cross-shaped head that's both clever and nice.

It grips the driver with an iron hold,

And never slips or wobbles, nor does fold.

Simple symmetrical shape, a thing of beauty,

And in the fingers of a pro, it's a worker's duty.

To fasten, to tighten, to hold things together,

In this world of machines, it's a godsend, forever.

I take a sip of my drink and pause for a moment, considering the question.

My mind feels jumbled, the thoughts scattered. I feel a sense of frustration building inside of me, a sense that I'm not doing justice to the passion and intensity that I feel when I write.

"Poetry," my mouth finally stumbles, meeting her green eyes across the table.

"Tell me more." she answers interested.

"It's a way for me to capture the beauty of the world around me..." she looks away to the neighbor's table "...to take the ordinary and turn it into something unique."

"There's something magical about poetry, you know? It's like each word is a brushstroke, and the poem itself is a painting. And just like a painting, a good poem can transport you to another world entirely."

"Go on."

"It's about the emotions words evoke, the way they make you feel. A poem can capture the essence of a moment in time, or it can express a feeling that's so deep and profound that words alone could never do it justice."

I lean back in my wooden chair, a dreamy look in his eyes.

"I think poetry has the power to change the world, you know? To connect people on a level that's deeper than language or culture. It's like a universal language, one that speaks to the soul."

She nods in agreement, does she actually understand?

Maybe, she sees the beauty of poetry too.

I'd like to compare the allegory of the Cave with Orwell's 1984 dystopia.

In the "Allegory of the Cave," the prisoners are essentially living in a simulated reality, where they are unable to see anything beyond the shadows projected onto the cave wall. They are unaware that there is a world outside of the cave, and they mistake the shadows for reality. Similarly, in "1984," the Party manipulates reality by rewriting history and controlling the information that is available to the public.

Both works deal the difficulty of discovering the truth. In the "Allegory of the Cave," Plato argues that only through education and enlightenment individuals can discover the truth beyond the shadows. Similarly, in "1984," Winston Smith, the main character, seeks to discover the truth about his world, but he is ultimately unable to do so. The Party's control over information and reality makes it nearly impossible for Winston to know what is true and what is not.

Furthermore, both works examine the nature of reality itself. In the "Allegory of the Cave," Plato uses the cave as a metaphor for the human condition, where individuals are unable to see beyond their own perspectives and must strive to gain knowledge in order to achieve enlightenment. Similarly, in "1984," the Party's manipulation of reality blurs the line between what is real and what is not, making it difficult for individuals to know what is true.

Both tell a story of a subjective reality, and a ignorant society, believing that their and only their worldview is right.

If I were a food, I'd be a delicious cake,

With layers of sweetness, that nobody can fake.

The first layer is made of my kindness and care,

And a pinch of patience, that I try to bear.

The second layer is my sense of humor and wit,

With a sprinkle of laughter, that's hard to resist.

It adds a flavor to life, that's sometimes bland,

And lightens up moods, like a wave on the sand.

The third layer is made of my creativity,

And a dash of curiosity, that never gets old.

It brings color to days, that are dull and gray,

And makes hearts sing, like a choir in May.

The final layer is my determination and drive,

With a generous amount of passion, that keeps me alive.

It fuels my dreams, and helps me achieve,

The things I want, and the goals I believe.

As I walk through the deserted streets, the only sound is the distant hum of automated drones flying. The sky is a deep shade of crimson, a warning sign of the danger that lurks around every corner.

The city is shrouded in darkness, with only the occasional flicker of light from a streetlamp or an electrical billboard to guide my way. It's like I'm walking through a labyrinth, with no way out and no escape from the all-seeing eyes of the government.

Everywhere I look, there are neon-lighted advertisements battling for space. It's like I can't escape their gaze, even in the darkness of the night.

Far away, I hear the distant sound of a loud group of boys, echoing through the silent streets. They are the ones who back this oppressive regime, with an indoctrination since their birth. At age four a mandatory join in preschool is necessary, and the first time they write their name is on the party member application. Now, in their teenage years, many of them roam the streets at night, shouting, racing the empty roads up and down. This way they detect suspicious activity, which is walking down the block if they want to make an arrest. They have full permission to take action against these jaywalking "threads", if they're bored you might end up arrested by them. But I am home soon so I have nothing to fear if I hurry.

The air is thick with the scent of fear and distrust, as people huddle in their homes, afraid to get caught by the racing teenage boys. All living in a state of constant paranoia, never knowing who we can trust or who is watching us.

I shiver, feeling the weight of the oppressive regime bearing down on me. It's like I'm trapped in a never-ending cycle of surveillance and control, with no hope of escape. Down the road, I hear the humming sound of a car slowly going full speed. My apartment is another two minutes further down the street. I turn- and already see their light getting brighter every second. Lead by fear I stumble into a dark side street. Here I never was before, fast I duck behind a trash container - and hear the shouting boys racing past me! This was more risky than it should be. The thought of living like this for the rest of my life is suffocating.

A film building the basis for Star Wars, The Matrix, Jurassic Park, and Avatar is often left out. The film is "The Birth of a Nation" from 1915. While the film is widely regarded as a masterpiece of technical filmmaking and storytelling, it is also notorious for its deeply problematic themes.

The film's technical achievements were groundbreaking for the time, including its use of close-ups, cross-cutting, and parallel editing. Having in mind that The first World War was raging across the ocean, let's us have a thought of how ahead of its time the film was.

It was a commercial and critical success, grossing over $10 million at the box office. For that time, it was a huge sum.

The film's impact on cinema cannot be overstated. It established many of the narrative and technical conventions of modern filmmaking, such as the use of flashback, parallel editing, and the creation of epic, sprawling stories.

Overall, "The Birth of a Nation" is a film that changed the course of cinema forever, both for its technical achievements and its controversial content. Its legacy serves as a reminder of the power of film to both reflect and shape society's beliefs and values.