He
looks behind anxiously
His
own shadow he sees
Panics
and starts to run
Sweating
profusely
He
looks behind terrified
The
shadow is still with him
He
runs faster and faster
Thus
the ignorant
Unaware
of their own failings
Tread
their unhappy way
Their
folly never leaves them
Till
Wisdom dawns
And
the illuminating light
Dispels
the shadow
GOOD ONE.
ReplyDeleteia
To have an insight into one's own failings is essential. I like the poem and its deep enduring philosophy. The image complements the poem superbly. Thank you
ReplyDeleteProfound and superbly illustrated-Thanks Mahen
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Each time I read it I came up with a slightly different interpretation! Like Rohini, I loved the accompanying image.
ReplyDeleteMy thanks to ND, Rohini, Indra and Srianee for their comments. The most beautiful thing about writing poetry is the satisfaction I get out of it and the sharing of this with fruends. I am waiting for Rohini's next one, but of course Prose can be used as powerfully as a Poem as ND has shown us many times.
ReplyDeleteMahen, It might be a while before I get a chance to write in the blog as I have just commenced a locum for a colleague which is likely to keep me busy and out of mischief in the next 3 weeks! Absence of comments from me would not equate to non-appreciation of the posts.
DeleteIt is interesting that Manel connected the theme of your poem to Zen Buddhism.
Ignorance has also been denounced in Hinduism (Lord Shiva in the famous Nataraja pose in fact is standing on the demon of ignorance), by Socrates,Confucius,and other philosophers, and comparatively recently by Carl Sagan who has written much which is very interesting on the subject.
Your fine poem wraps it all up very cleverly.
Shall try at least to have a little peek into the blog now and then!
erratum:
DeleteLord Shiva as Nataraja is "dancing" the "cosmic dance"-
not "standing".
Beautiful and thought provoking speedy a very Zen buddhistic attitude towards life
ReplyDeleteManel
Manel, lovely to "see" you on the Blog! Hope to see more of you.
ReplyDeleteRohini, I just saw your reply/comment. Thank you. I will have to do some reading to enlighten myself. I am discouraged by the ignorant people I encounter, who are so sure of themselves. They are spewing "alternative facts" and are incapable of listening to anyone else. Enjoy your locum assignment.
ReplyDeleteLovely to see you on the blog Manel. I know you do visit the the blog but it is always nice to read a contribution or comment.
ReplyDeleteI suppose I touched on an interesting topic when I spoke of "Ignorance". This has many meanings or interpretations as you know from a very narrow field, such as ignorance of rules regarding driving and alcohol levels to the philosophical level of ignotrance being not having or possessing "correct" or "right" knowledge about existential phenomena and life in a deeper sense. In the religious context, "true understanding" for one may be an expression of ignorance from another viewpoint. I would prefer to let the reader of my poem come to his/her own concusions on ignorance, realisation of ignorance and gaining of wisdom!
Thanks Mahendra! And sorry I have not been here for some days. What a beautiful composition and how cleverly observed. I take it as a metaphor for what happens in most of our lives. How true indeed. I have many a time run and the wisdom has dawned later when I saw the 'illuminating light'. You are up there with the great poets. Thanks again. from Zita
ReplyDeleteGlad you like it Zita and nice to see one of our regulars "back on the blog". The next step will be a contribution from you, always appreciated.
ReplyDelete