Seeing

FredPeyer

It's not what you look at that matters,

it's what you see.

Henry David Thoreau

 

 

Each one of us, governed by perception

Hear, smell, taste, and feel what is there

Be it solid, dead, living, water, or air

In our own private way without exception

 

A beautiful sunset lights up the sky

The poet sees lines of a poem to write

The realist sees only air pollution plight

The painter sees colors, brushes, and dye

 

Where we come from and what we have learned

Is all part of the intricate process we use to see

Results will be different between you and me

No right, nor wrong as far as I’m concerned

 

Certainly, we all see the same ‘thing’

But meanings can be very far apart

Arrived at entirely by brain and heart

And past impressions we usually bring

 

We may not see along the same line

That’s why we have to keep an open mind

To differing interpretations of any kind

So understanding and acceptance will align

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Comments +

Comments8

  • orchidee

    Good write F.

    • FredPeyer

      Thank you, Orchidee! I do appreciate your comments!

    • Louis Gibbs

      'Selective seeing' is as real as 'selective hearing' ... we neither see nor hear exactly what another 'chooses' to see or hear out of the total spectrum of that which is 'there' ... what is meant by 'each experiencing our own reality'. Your poem speaks to this concisely and exquisitely, Fred! Love it.

      • FredPeyer

        Thanks Louis, you are absolutely right! Raising three kids I did develop 'selective hearing', mainly to maintain my sanity!

      • Mugsdaddy

        You can only see life from your own perception governing good or bad right from wrong until we make the conscience choice to choose compation and look at life through anothers eyes. In that we become truly human.

        • FredPeyer

          Thank you Mugsdaddy! I think you took this discussion to a whole new level.

          • Mugsdaddy

            I was merely moved by your words.

          • Michael Edwards

            Underlines that we are all unique - as an artist this is especially so. rarely if ever do two people independently agree in the interpretation of one of one of my abstracts for example. Great write

            • FredPeyer

              Thanks Michael, I guess it must be very interesting for you to get interpretations on your abstract paintings. There might even be a poem in it. Would love to see one of your abstracts and then have the poem touch on all the different views you received.

              • Michael Edwards

                Good Idea Fred - might work on it.

                • FredPeyer

                  Just had a different idea. You could post an abstract and invite all of us to give you our interpretation, what we see in it, in our comments. It would save you from having to write the poem yourself! 🙂

                  • Michael Edwards

                    I'll do just that later in the week - great idea Fred.

                  • WL Schuett

                    Very good poem love this philosophy , 😎

                    • FredPeyer

                      Thank you WL, I might say that this is a philosophy to live by. In my opinion at least, writers especially need to keep an open mind.

                    • dusk arising

                      The poet in us all here looks, perceives things in all manner of differing ways Fred so i think we may be among the enlightened. But does that enroll us into the 'sat on the fence' echelon of society. No fear, we're far too outspoken a bunch. I enjoyed your piece thank you sir!

                      • FredPeyer

                        Thanks so much da, love your comment!

                      • Accidental Poet

                        As poets, I wonder do we have a perception more focused on trying to see beauty in all things or as many as possible? Whereas someone else who was brought up differently sees something else. Excellent poem Fred. It does really open up the mind and eyes to new awareness. ; )

                        • FredPeyer

                          Thank you AP, I think writers (not only poets) in general look at things with maybe a little more awareness than average. If you are trying to create a persona you need to see it from every angle, the good and the bad. The same goes for situations. Well, at least that is my opinion.

                          • Accidental Poet

                            We think alike Fred. ; )

                          • Goldfinch60

                            Very good write and so true, we must not just look but see, we must not hear but listen.
                            We must understand the differences in each other.

                            • FredPeyer

                              Thank you Goldfinch, you are right!



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