What does understanding mean?
The answer is already flashing in my head
Bypassing true thought process:
Comprehension, a grasp of meaning.
Do I really know what I’m talking about?
The truth is, I have come to find
That only with experience does one truly “understand.”
I might sympathize or empathize
Or shed a tear at an acquaintance’s funeral
Or nod eagerly, feigning emotional involvement
As a hobbled woman at the bus stop goes on about her first love.
I can deconstruct the word, find roots and definitions- to what avail?
More and more I try to “understand the meaning” of that which
I have yet to experience.
I replay remarks and thoughts and images
Taking them apart, trying to “scratch the surface”
To mentally and emotionally experience
That which I haven’t witnessed firsthand.
But the truth is:
No matter how many times you hear
About different strokes for different folks
It will still be hard to watch your children reject your ways.
And the wisdom in charity beginning at home
Will never resonate for most
As strongly as it does for a beaten wife.
Even now, as you read these words and nod your head
Do you understand?
Every moment is an experience:
With experience we gain understanding
And in understanding, we grow up.
Childhood is innocence; innocence is naivety
As the years pile on and thoughts, actions, life overall
Becomes more complex
A stove’s burn becomes a scar
As does a lost parent.
And somewhere along the process
Childhood washes away.
Comments?
Sorry, you cannot respond to an archived poemReviews
-
Interesting.. really !
Too often on this site the content of the poem is examined rather than the crafting and working of it into a poem rather than , for instance , a prose piece. From where I stand, this is more that - a reflective prose piece laid out like a poem . As such I do not intend to critique it but wanted to let you know that I found your musings worthy and interesting.As somebody a good deal older than yourself I can see the dawning of realization here.The mere fact that you are interested in 'wisdom' means you are on the way to attaining it. Daring to ask the questions and scrutinize YOURSELF so honestly is the mark of a philosopher.One of your first lessons will be that the acquisition of wisdom is not a solution to life's problems - indeed it is the heightening of awareness of them and 'who needs it' . It IS however, im my opinion, the only decent way live your life and expand your aristic awareness and skill.I wish you luck and courage on this excellent journey! -
Nice one
This is by far and away the best and clearest content I have read on this site, and the comment you have below from windhover is superb.
What you describe as a false understanding I label analysis and I disagree with you though in that you have in my opinion undervalued the use of analysis to sympathize/empathize etc; and while you cannot really understand something you havn't experienced, you can form strategies and ideas to deal with such situations based on your ideas about it.
These such strategies and ideas are not cast iron solution to anything, but should never the less be considered as useful for what they are; but as you will likely agree they should not be dressed up into something they are not.
. Rewarded 4
-
Wow
I thought this was beautiful. Such truth rings out in each line, especially in the last stanza. I don't think we really do understand. We can try to understand how others feel, what they've been through, we can even think we understand or pretend we do - but nobody truly knows what it's like to be that person. This really reminded me of a friend and co-worker who has just been through it the past couple of years. Her husband cheated on her and got a woman pregnant, so they separated and divorced and then he married the other woman and forgot about my friend and her son, completely abandoning them. Then her Stepfather died and then her mother died within three months. I can never really say I understand what she's going through when she begins to cry to me, because honestly I don't.
Enough rambling.
This poem is brilliant in its meaning. I also like your word choices and even the format. However, the one thing I might change is the capitalization of the first word of each line... as another poet once told me of my poems that did that: "it screams microsoft word"! I think it also takes something away from the lines, putting all the focus on the first word, drawing your eyes away from the meaning.
Besides that... it's perfect!. Rewarded 4
-
Thought provoking
Greenpea,i really enjoyd reading this piece, over, and over, trying to work out where you are coming from.
I dont think that you will truly find what you are looking for unless you chance upon the cycle of eternal life. The only problem with that is, you will have to experiance eternity and all that comes with it.
One thing i think you really understand is the child and innocence thing , i hope ferventley that you do not come into the beaten wife catagory.. Rewarded 1
-
This was excellent.
This work communicates on many levels both spiritually and mentally. It is full of insightful glimpses into the human mind and soul. There is clarity, yet nuance to intrigue and tickle the mind. This work is very good and speaks of a soul much more mature than your picture suggests. You have a firm grasp on your concepts and describe your thoughts well. This was rather delightful, I must say. Very good. There is a poignancy to this that speaks to the soul. Excellent.. Rewarded 1
-
"Tell me and i'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and i'll understand" -from a Chinese Proverb
Somehow I know this line of questioning ( but then, do i really know and understand even the very least?)
this is a superb write. more than the poem, these are exceptional thoughts. I have pondered about this for as long as i can remember. You have written it and we can just nod our heads and say.."come to think of it...."
It may not lead us to really "understand the meaning", but somehow it's telling me no one is really better than the other. What you learned from experience is definitely your own. I may have a similar experience but i may have learned differently. and it's my own. i can not even begin to tell you. and yes, you can only nod.
best regards,
lynne. Rewarded 1
Windhover
June 3, 2006
Edit | Reply