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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Author:
Alfred Peyer (Pseudonym) (
Offline) - Published: September 25th, 2017 12:51
- Category: Reflection
- Views: 56
- Users favorite of this poem: Mugsdaddy, WL Schuett, Accidental Poet.
Offline)
Comments8
Good write F.
Thank you, Orchidee! I do appreciate your comments!
'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.
Thanks Louis, you are absolutely right! Raising three kids I did develop 'selective hearing', mainly to maintain my sanity!
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.
Thank you Mugsdaddy! I think you took this discussion to a whole new level.
I was merely moved by your words.
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
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.
Good Idea Fred - might work on it.
2 more comments
Very good poem love this philosophy , 😎
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.
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!
Thanks so much da, love your comment!
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. ; )
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.
We think alike Fred. ; )
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.
Thank you Goldfinch, you are right!
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