And Yet Poem by Frank Avon

And Yet



The only thing one's certain of
is that one can be certain of nothing;
certitude
is a cardinal sin,
Pride:

truths, values, understandings
after all are only
one's responses
to circumstances
to what others have
imprinted, imposed, impressed
upon ones's psyche
circumstantial
social
uncertain,

I'm certain.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Topic(s) of this poem: truth
POET'S NOTES ABOUT THE POEM
after Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Daniel Brick 16 January 2015

AND YET is such a simple phrase but it marks a crucial turning in your poem when you express your attainment of certitude. And the moment of AND YET occurs in the open space between the words UNCERTAIN and I'M CERTAIN. That open space is a quietly persuasive deep intake of breath - both the physical air to treat the physical body AND the spiritual breath of the Spirit to treat the soul, it is what we mean by the word INSPIRATION. As a reader, I can feel part of that force of certitude but not yet to the degree you have achieved. And yet (!) . the path to this certitude is foreshadowed in your poem.

2 0 Reply
Frank Avon 19 April 2017

Health issues (or, ageing) have kept me away from Poem Hunter for a while. It's always such a pleasure to read your thoughtful comments AND your poems. I hope all is going well with you. I think you give this poem more that its due, but your words almost make me feel like a poet - almost.

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