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What It Isn't

it isn't what it is
it is what it isn't

a window                                 
a prism          
          a lens
                                a schism

fresh metaphors and similes
the light from which the darkness flees

that lets the eye                                              
see what it sees                  
              removing blinds
                                          transforming minds

it isn't what it is
it is what it isn't



"We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are."

                                                                         -Anaïs Nin  

"Art isn't the truth. Art is a lie that makes us realize the truth"

                                                                         -Pablo Picasso

Copyright © John Watt | Year Posted 2020

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Line Gauthier Date: 8/4/2020 10:38:00 PM Wow convoluted yet insightful ~ Login to Reply John Watt Date: 8/8/2020 1:16:00 PM Line, thank you very much for your insightful comment. Convoluted is a good word!

Sam Kauffman Date: 6/5/2020 4:18:00 PM Congratulations John. There is true depth here. Love the descending format. Reminds me of my poem "One." You very successfully used an inclusive format - one of my favorites - to draw us in and then "resolve "wink -wink" the poetic tension built into the verse. Nicely done! Blessings my friend. Login to Reply John Watt Date: 8/8/2020 1:24:00 PM Thank you Sam. I love your "One" poem, I'm happy this reminded you of that gem.

Andrea Dietrich Date: 6/4/2020 3:15:00 PM this is one I had faved and you only got an HM? Geeez. WEll, my HM twin. Today we are not twins. I got Nuttin'!! Login to Reply John Watt Date: 6/4/2020 4:37:00 PM Hmmm...

Kai Michael Neumann Date: 2/7/2020 4:21:00 AM Very well captured ... Login to Reply John Watt Date: 2/7/2020 10:03:00 AM Thank you, Kai.

Andrea Dietrich Date: 2/6/2020 5:39:00 PM I see you took the quote to mean a little different from how I took it. For me it meant that we view others according to our own standards. I'm so bad at knowing if I am interpreting certain quotes the right way or not!! Login to Reply John Watt Date: 2/6/2020 5:45:00 PM Poetry allows for flexible interpretations. I wouldn't say mine is necessarily the correct one. I put it out there for just such a multiplicity of viewpoints. Thanks for reading! (Soupmail) ~ John

Andrea Dietrich Date: 2/4/2020 7:28:00 PM puzzles are hard for me, but I catch the essence of this one and I find it VERY creative. excellent writing, John. A fave for ME. Login to Reply John Watt Date: 2/4/2020 11:47:00 PM (2) ...as we consider WHY we believe things are beautiful, ugly, or plain. Thank you for the supportive words, the fave, and for taking time to puzzle this out. I'm so glad you caught the essence ~ John John Watt Date: 2/4/2020 11:45:00 PM Andrea - to me, the Anaïs Nin quote is a paraphrase of the old adage "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". Observing art (be it poetry, sculpture, paintings, music, architecture, whatever) shines a light on us (continued...)

Darlene De Beaulieu Date: 2/4/2020 6:31:00 PM Hello John Watt, What it isn't An. I find this poem like a puzzle to be figured out. An interesting poem. Have a nice evening my friend. Login to Reply Darlene De Beaulieu Date: 2/5/2020 9:18:00 AM Hello John Watt,yes I find this very interesting. Have a nice day my friend. John Watt Date: 2/4/2020 11:32:00 PM Thank you Darlene, for being willing to puzzle this one out. I'm glad you found it interesting ~ John