This poem is pretty simple and self-explanatory, but all the while it asks deep questions we all struggle to answer. Perhaps the poetic side of our nature is there for a reason. Thanks for coming by to read!
What are the number of leagues
Between our views,
Do you suppose?
Only a poet
Only a poet
Only a poet knows.
What are the years it takes
To raise the stakes
Until it blows?
Only a poet
Only a poet
Only a poet knows.
What degree
Of complexity
Is inscrutable to those?
Only a poet
Only a poet
Only a poet knows.
What is the point of
Humanity,
With the metaverse so close?
Only a poet
Only a poet
Only a poet knows.
While you rush
And click and do,
A poet sits
And thinks for you,
And wonders why
And how and who
And whether,
For what it’s worth…
What is the price you’d pay,
To hold yourself
Above the fray?
Only the poet
Only the poet
Only the poet pays.
Copyright 2022 Andrea LeDew
For more tongue in cheek praise of poets, read To the Poet (Poem). For a short short on knowing true value, read A Pearl of Great Price.
Prayer for a Caretaker
Thanks Andrea—I’ll watch that movie soon!
So glad to have woken up to this poem this morning. Immediately the image of Emily Dickinson appeared sitting in that little room all her life “just thinking”. I’m so thankful she did —and paid the price.
Margrit
Love this comment Margrit! Have you seen the biopic with the redhead from Sex in the City Cynthia Nixon, playing Emily Dickinson? It’s called A Quiet Passion. We can hardly complain about our words being unheard in our age of relentless communication.
But poor Emily, stuck in that house with chores still to do! There was no independent existence for women back then, I think, especially unknown artists. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2392830/
And this was my favorite part:
While you rush
And click and do,
A poet sits
And thinks for you
Sorry this got caught in my spam folder Prior! So glad you liked that verse. So few people seemed to indulge in contemplation these days, if only for lack of time. Rather than rushing through our experience blindly, we should give way sometimes, to the impulse to think deeply. Or, at the very least, indulge in the poetry and prose of those who do.
Hi – enjoyed your poem
Thanks Prior!!