Wisdom

Time and reflection

Wisdom

I cannot say that I’ve grown wise
through all my passing years.
Yet one can surely win apprise
with open eyes and ears.
 
I see ego garbed as majesty
blurting nonsense called opinion
and hapless pawns of travesty, 
misled by such dominion.
 
Then pride, that common drivel,
pours like rain into my ears.
Heralding the frivol,
playing on our fears.
 
A wise and precious mind
soars higher than the rest.
Overlooked, disparaged and maligned,
shame they’re oft suppressed.
 
By wise enthralled and fools appalled,
these two of diverse kind.
How is it then they’ll be recalled?
By what they leave behind.

Reviews

[Davidgeo]

Your structure is completely solid.

The words "intellectual" and "temperance" come to mind after reading this.

[Great Aunt Astri]

A very wise poem! You write it well. I think with time, we all get a bit wiser, and certainly, we never stop learning!

[Mark]

Thank you so much for your review Great Aunt Astri. I try to keep learning, and I believe I'm wiser than when young. Certain attributes, however, persist in retrograde.

[Brent]

Your poem reminds me of the an old quote by Maya Angelou: "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

We see people brag about the intelligence and accomplishments and so on every day. It's become easier now than ever to oversell one's qualifications. Wisdom, as you say, is lending a sympathetic ear to others and improving society. Great poem!

[Mark]

Brent, thanks so much for your cogent and canny response to my poem. Certainly, a worthy enhancement to what I wrote.

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

Contemplative, eloquent, relevant poetic statement. Lovely flow ,cadence and rhyme. "Ego garbed as majesty"-yes, we have plenty of that these days. "Pride..heralding the frivol"-stunning, erudite. Wise minds vs. Court Jesters- so very true. History will judge "what they leave behind"...Kudos on this excellent work!