Pearls of Wisdom

[tectak]

To enter in the knife must be both slick and keen. it feels like a comma is missing from somewhere in the line
The clamped, thick shell, held fast by might,
determined to resist; yet fight
is but a static hold which by
a twist and snap, the oysters die
and there within the pearl is seen.

Yet few contain this lustrous orb, this gleaming prize,
that certainty needs numbers high;
no one is sure, so many try.
like pearls of wisdom, rare indeed, would something else instead of pearls create a better if more abstract simile, my suggestion would be 'grains'
and valued thus, subject to greed,
by those pretenders… wishful wise.

Great men who wisdom held to be, wise in their lives lots of repetition which doesn't really work for me
in quanta dispensate their word; i like the way this line hold fast just enough to take in the eloquence of quanta.
in but a quiet quote, just heard.
Yet for this gifted, crafted tome
wars end in peace and soldiers, home,
lay in their beds with grateful wives. good end to the stanza.

Mahatmas bother, fuss and seek to cultivate
a pearl so pure, so scarce and rare, scarce equates to much with rare, and we have 'pearl' again
that journeys, bliss-filled, take few there;
to mocksha where all wisdom lies
and bodhi…man, in flesh despised,
becomes by truth , initiate. the stanza has a strong religious feel to it, i knew what mocksha was, but had to google bodhi...it was worth it.

Did Plato then a pearl dispense to Aristotle in his youth? another pearl
And if the truth of this is clear
was wisdom passed from one great seer
by written word and anecdote?
Or by a meme; the wise will note
that wisdom substitutes for proof. good good finish

Tectak
2011


Already posted in another place but mildly edited for the prestigious critics on this site. You know who you are.
What is wisdom?

the last stanza i really enjoyed, it flowed effortlessly. i really think the poem could do with less of the repetitions, 'wisdom' 'pearl/s' 'wise'.
i like the different levels of pearl/s the poem goes through. i like the way it's equated with life, death, greed etc.
thanks for the read

You're up early, billy. Piss the bed? Thanks for response. Yes to the comma. Will add. This whole piece is an extended metaphor on the definition or the value of "wisdom" and the cliche of "pearls of wisdom" seems apposite on many levels. What inherent value in a pearl? The pearl is a beautiful thing but an irritant, initially, to the oyster. Showed we show off our pearls or keep them in the safe? Etc etc. So no apologies for the repetition
Best,
Tectak

---

To enter in the knife must be both slick and keen. it feels like a comma is missing from somewhere in the line
The clamped, thick shell, held fast by might,
determined to resist; yet fight
is but a static hold which by
a twist and snap, the oysters die
and there within the pearl is seen.

Yet few contain this lustrous orb, this gleaming prize,
that certainty needs numbers high;
no one is sure, so many try.
like pearls of wisdom, rare indeed, would something else instead of pearls create a better if more abstract simile, my suggestion would be 'grains'
and valued thus, subject to greed,
by those pretenders… wishful wise.

Great men who wisdom held to be, wise in their lives lots of repetition which doesn't really work for me
in quanta dispensate their word; i like the way this line hold fast just enough to take in the eloquence of quanta.
in but a quiet quote, just heard.
Yet for this gifted, crafted tome
wars end in peace and soldiers, home,
lay in their beds with grateful wives. good end to the stanza.

Mahatmas bother, fuss and seek to cultivate
a pearl so pure, so scarce and rare, scarce equates to much with rare, and we have 'pearl' again
that journeys, bliss-filled, take few there;
to mocksha where all wisdom lies
and bodhi…man, in flesh despised,
becomes by truth , initiate. the stanza has a strong religious feel to it, i knew what mocksha was, but had to google bodhi...it was worth it.

Did Plato then a pearl dispense to Aristotle in his youth? another pearl
And if the truth of this is clear
was wisdom passed from one great seer
by written word and anecdote?
Or by a meme; the wise will note
that wisdom substitutes for proof. good good finish

Tectak
2011


Already posted in another place but mildly edited for the prestigious critics on this site. You know who you are.
What is wisdom?

the last stanza i really enjoyed, it flowed effortlessly. i really think the poem could do with less of the repetitions, 'wisdom' 'pearl/s' 'wise'.
i like the different levels of pearl/s the poem goes through. i like the way it's equated with life, death, greed etc.
thanks for the read

You're up early, billy. Piss the bed? Thanks for response. Yes to the comma. Will add. This whole piece is an extended metaphor on the definition or the value of "wisdom" and the cliche of "pearls of wisdom" seems apposite on many levels. What inherent value in a pearl? The pearl is a beautiful thing but an irritant, initially, to the oyster. Should we show off our pearls or keep them in the safe? Etc etc. So no apologies for the repetition
Best,
Tectak