The Pen's Predicament : Prose's Dilemma
"My mind expands, my wisdom grows,
New depths of thought in me arise,
Yet when I take up pen, my prose
Regresses, simpler forms comprise.
The more I learn, the less I'm able
To clearly write what I now know.
This paradox does leave me unstable,
For I wish my skill did also grow.
My intellect expands its wings,
Allowing me to soar so high.
But when I write, small, simple things
Are all my clumsy words imply.
The smarter that I get, it seems
The dumber does my writing become.
I cannot bridge the gap, it seems,
Between my mind and fingers numb.
New concepts in my mind now breed,
Ideas that were not there before.
But when I try to write, I need
To speak as if I knew much less lore.
My wisdom and my skill divorced,
One far outpaces the other.
I fear my writing's been coerced
To lag behind its smarter brother.
My crafty mind could apt create
A tapestry of thoughtful words.
But hands betray, cannot translate
The elegance my mind affords.
Pen blunted by my brightened state,
Ink spills but drivel on the page.
I mourn my hand cannot relate
The richness words could well engage.
Thoughts spawn and spread within my head
In ways profound and layered thick.
But by the time the words are said,
They seem dull, foolish, language sick.
My mind is like a trap, a cage,
Now knowing more than I can scribe.
This paradox fills me with rage,
For I cannot aptly describe.
More erudite I daily become,
But simpler words my hand now uses.
I feel letter dumb and wholly numb,
Verbosity my pen refuses.
My mind expands, my hand stays small,
The gap between them ever-widens.
Frustration builds beyond a wall,
For skill lags far behind what lies within.
The more that I can comprehend,
The less my feeble hand conveys.
Seems language meets a dead-end,
Fails what within me wish to say.
My wisdom soars up to the skies,
But hand stays chained, cannot take flight.
This chasm causes my demise,
For I cannot make the dark seem light.
Thoughts kaleidoscope, prismatic hues,
But mundane words escape my grip.
The smarter I become, it's true,
The dumber does my writing slip.
My mind explores, my words regress,
The gap I cannot hope to mend.
Perhaps my prose I should undress,
And keep my thoughts locked up within."
The poem is part of a full version found in the book “Homo Sapiens” Part Part I - XVIII, written by Mawphniang Napoleon. This book is part of the popular “Homo Sapiens” book series, which can be purchased online at various online bookstores, such as Amazon. The book is available for purchase for those who are interested in reading the complete version of the poem. Remember to get all the books from the “Homo Sapiens” series, as well as other books by the same author. So, don’t hesitate and get a copy today from one of the many online bookstores. Khublei Shihajar Nguh, (Dhanewad )(Thank you )
About this poem
This poignant poem explores the paradox of a growing intellect failing to translate into eloquent writing. The widening gap between expanding wisdom and the limitations of expression becomes a source of frustration for the poet, emphasizing the struggle to convey complex thoughts through simple words. The intricate interplay between mind and hand creates a poignant reflection on the challenges of intellectual growth and the elusive pursuit of bridging the divide between profound understanding and articulate prose. more »
Written on June 20, 2020
Submitted by Mawphniang.Napoleon on November 13, 2023
Modified by Mawphniang.Napoleon on November 13, 2023
- 2:57 min read
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Quick analysis:
Scheme | ABABCDCD EFEFGHGH IJIJXKXK LXLXLMLM NONOMPMP HQHQRXRS TXTXBUBU XVWVXTXS W |
---|---|
Closest metre | Iambic pentameter |
Characters | 2,874 |
Words | 588 |
Stanzas | 9 |
Stanza Lengths | 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 1 |
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"The Pen's Predicament : Prose's Dilemma" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 8 Jun 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/173727/the-pen's-predicament--:-prose's-dilemma>.
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