A root clings blind to earth, cutting its tooth on decay
Air may be sweet on memory, but wind pushes change
Fire torches everything, but a phoenix rises anyway
Between solitude and loneliness lies a choice as slippery as water
9 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Between solitude and loneliness lies a choice as slippery as water
I'm caught on those lines. Drawn. I've thinking about that difference and the distinction that's deceptively massive between the two.
Above all, I feel a kind of a tension between fundamental desires and the turning world beneath our feet. Solitude may isolate us from a substantial part of change, but loneliness embraces both--the truth of desires and the truth of how hard it is to hold them once we achieve them.
Is there solace in what rises afterward? Yes. And sometimes no.
Jason, interesting point. I think that, ideally, solitude is the pursuit of personal truth with the security of attachments grounding us. Loneliness is the aching hunger we feel when those attachments appear lost, or uncertain.
Is it a choice? Depends on the circumstances. But more often than not, I think we underestimate the world outside of ourselves, and our connection to it.
K, that is the ultimate hope. To endure life's gauntlet of trials, and come out stronger on the other side.
I like solitude. As long as there are people to share those solitary experiences with, too. :)
I love your use of the four elements here! Nothing can stay the same. Change is constant. Choice is our salvation. How we choose to define the situation means everything. We can allow ourselves to be unhappy and feel no control as the changes sweeep us along with the current. Or we can choose to embrace changes and enjoy what they bring to our lives. Because after all, it's going to change again....
Aine, so well said! I think that fall, especially, presses those changes upon us. For some, that can be depleting. For others, innervating. I think I know which side of the line you fall on. :) And thank goodness.
I'm really trying to maintain that positive perspective, too. Even as the days grow chillier, and the nights longer.
9 comments:
Between solitude and loneliness
lies a choice as slippery as water
I'm caught on those lines. Drawn. I've thinking about that difference and the distinction that's deceptively massive between the two.
Above all, I feel a kind of a tension between fundamental desires and the turning world beneath our feet. Solitude may isolate us from a substantial part of change, but loneliness embraces both--the truth of desires and the truth of how hard it is to hold them once we achieve them.
Is there solace in what rises afterward? Yes. And sometimes no.
I seek solitude on occasion, but would never want to be lonely. There is a fine line between them sometimes.
Incongruities abound! Something in life can go completely wrong - but, productivity can come out of the experience.
Jason, interesting point. I think that, ideally, solitude is the pursuit of personal truth with the security of attachments grounding us. Loneliness is the aching hunger we feel when those attachments appear lost, or uncertain.
Is it a choice? Depends on the circumstances. But more often than not, I think we underestimate the world outside of ourselves, and our connection to it.
K, that is the ultimate hope. To endure life's gauntlet of trials, and come out stronger on the other side.
I like solitude. As long as there are people to share those solitary experiences with, too. :)
I love your use of the four elements here! Nothing can stay the same. Change is constant. Choice is our salvation. How we choose to define the situation means everything. We can allow ourselves to be unhappy and feel no control as the changes sweeep us along with the current. Or we can choose to embrace changes and enjoy what they bring to our lives. Because after all, it's going to change again....
Aine, so well said! I think that fall, especially, presses those changes upon us. For some, that can be depleting. For others, innervating. I think I know which side of the line you fall on. :) And thank goodness.
I'm really trying to maintain that positive perspective, too. Even as the days grow chillier, and the nights longer.
More time to read, after all. ;)
I enjoyed the play on the four elements here. Very nice.
Beautiful...
We have them all in us, these elements...
Between solitude and loneliness
lies a choice as slippery as water - this is brilliant.
The last two lines are truly excellent. THey have a profound meaning to them that I will keep contemplating!
Charles, it was interesting to try and capture the essence of those elements.
Vesper, we do have all of them within us. It's keeping them balanced that presents the challenge. Maybe the Greeks were onto something... ;)
Ello, originally, I just had those two lines. I tried to flesh out the poem a bit more, but those lines still feel apart to me.
Thank you all! :)
Post a Comment