The Cave: A Semi-Sonnet
This little poem is meant to express by its metrical form as well as by its words how unnerving and painful the process of learning can be. It is, of course, based on Plato’s cave metaphor.
I sat upon a slab of unhewn stone,
Imbibing all the chill solidity
That oozed in clammy moisture from its pores
and petrified my every weary bone.
I watched the sleepy shadows on the wall—
The dancing forms of sprightly, clever things
That soothed my soul and lent my spirit wings
As fire warmed my back. And that was all.
Until one day a stranger came and asked
If that was truly all—if stone was hard,
If warmth was warm, if shadows were. He asked
A thousand questions, and each inquiry shed light—
New light, and light, and light—effulgent, streaming,
Beaming, burning, stinging,
Blinding—
Until I longed for the dark security,
The shadowy cave
Where I could see and know.
Was I enlightened, or
Belighted?
June 7th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
WOW…..I don’t get it
June 7th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
I’ll explain…
June 8th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Interesting. Not the form of meter I’m used to - I’m still establishing how, exactly, is the best way to just use typical rhyming meter. I am, at best, an extreme beginner. But this is a fascinating poem….
June 8th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Thanks. It begins with the meter (iambic pentameter) and roughly the rhyme scheme of a Petrarchan Sonnet, but then it breaks down into no meter at all.
June 21st, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Interesting, but as you already know, I’m a poetic agnostic, so I won’t comment on the poem. But I do think it’s time for an update.
BTW, the link you have for my website is the old one. The new link should be http://www.mirrorimagesphoto.com, not the Projectricity subfolder. That is, if you think my site is worth adding to your blogroll.
June 21st, 2008 at 11:12 pm
The link is fixed. Thanks for pointing that out.
I completely agree that it’s time for an update, and I’ve been trying to think of one for some time. But apparently my muse has left me, and I’ve been too lazy to go looking for it. But I did recently post an essay on Word Miner, if you feel like going there.
July 6th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
very nice…