Would I be correct in guessing the bag is a metaphor for the 'baggage' we carry through life? As such it is quite meaningful, even poignant and yes, it is hard to let it go.

I really like the irregular use of rhyme. Too many young poets force themselves into strict rhyming schemes that end up sounding forced and jingly.

Welcome to Neopoet.

I like the language a lot. After a few reads I would like to suggest something. End the poem with
"no bag is better/than my own hand".

I also do understand what you mean about all the treasures in the bag not being all for you...but the poem is really about you, and this weight you carry.You turn that into a question, but the poem is about you totally knowing this bag intimately, so I think that line confuses a bit.
There seem to be a few different "teams" on this site concerning punctuation and capping the first line of a verse. I am on the capping side. As for punctuation, my first take is use it, it is a tool we have with words. But my second take is"all or none": not sometimes. You have 2 commas and a question mark..why not drop them, use spacing or whatever, or punctuate the whole poem?
This is my opinion. Some will say there are no rules, just be free. I respect that opinion. But a poem "look" and "feel" appears less crafty, to me, if it uses it "sometimes".
I think this is a fine work with such stunning lines as these:
I've made this bag see
The world beyond
It's deeply scarred skin

Lovely way to show us our imaginations what the bag looks like!

Poetry and dreams
come to the fortunate

If you have a Dream
conscious
like Martin Luther King
you are also one ...

If you dream subconsciously
eating bananas in one's dream
you have limitations

if you have to eat
in dreams only
might as well eat apples
and
cherries costly

so poetry is like wise
if you force to compose
so many will here oppose

but if it comes to you
as it does to me
barring an odd guy
many will repose faith
in poetry ensuing
from the likes of me
extempore

I am not a student of poetry
it comes naturally
but the kicks
I had the pleasant pleasure to here share
makes me worthy with stalwarts to compare

you need not compromise
except in the cover of darkness
where life is all lies and rosiness

but in the four walls of neo
you may compose
some will faithfully read
others will simply garbage it

so dream realistically
consciously subconsciousness will take care
never ever two poets compare
I dare!
Many critiques here
you may have to bear

Love this poem
about the ideology of bare arms
the raised arm not for greeting but
to show no weapon
Otzi the ice man was covered in
containers for his spear
meal..grass..first aid
when global warming stops
we will find a hiker
with Murse....tablet..cell phone
cappucino tankard of aluminum
with screw cap and caribiner
flask of gin...tin of cigarettes
gps....camera
bling...ear plugs
rings..orthopeadic lifts
support in his boots
back brace and sporty cane

I myself carry an AMERICAN EAGLE
canvasse knock off of the classic
world war two canvas shoulder sling
bag with adjustable metal
snaps..slider tension
leather slip on over nubs
I painted U S on the flap
cover...got a jungle jacket
mocked up like a vietnam
era jacket....cause we were
haunted by the horrific visions
of the news my parents taught
us...they were eighteen during
world war two and lost many
friends...then Korea and kids
their own childrens age...
we had american cousins
and we welcomed back
many americans to Ontario
out of the tours of Nam
in our village...still in jungle
boots and tiger stripes
specialist and a riverboat
captian whom hit a mine
and had a plate in his
head...Karl Trotter
then a mere mid twenties
long hair...beard..he looked
like jesus and built furniture
from a wealthy east coast
american family...

I had my fathers hunting bag
a canvass world war two surplus
haversack...my uncle was in world
war two...a few actually....
but Harry from the Algonquin Regiment
here in North Bay still bought the old
surplus and brought with him a large
cache of german booty...
U boat binoculars
etc...

I have a large sporting backpack
I remember the hippies with the vietnam
surplus backpacks...I loved the aluminum
frame packs...
never got to actually owning them
i have a modern soft nylon
huge...carry food bank supplies for two
people..roughly about sixty pounds
and the faux army bag with about
fifteen pounds of tools for repairing
my bike and stripping the junk I find
on the curb and trails..discards

to be free with just the open hands
is the ultimate
i did this hitchiking for a time
nothing but the day run clothing
I got rides this way

extremely insightful poem
thank U very much

W