0003 Similes, Metaphors And Stuff (2)

Isn’t it strange, this thing called Poetry – and even stranger, these things called similes and metaphors, which are the very essence of what poetry uses to try to get to us? Look! Over there, in that field! Did you see it? No, what? A hare! Never seen one before! It’s hiding in the grass now – there! It’s jumped up again! watch it bounce up and down as it runs, must have strong hind legs, isn’t it funny? So fast, too – our dog will never catch it… No I still didn’t see it, I was watching that beautiful perfect V-formation of wild geese against the blue sky over there, I wonder where they came from, where they’re going? And does their leader know and lead them, or do they all know and they're all on the same goosy wave-length and they must be cleverer than us then, how do they do that...? You missed them, they're out of sight now, so we'll never know...I guess our dog barking, set them off… And so, our mind – that lively, scatty, playful, faithful dog, chasing hares which catch our idling attention, chasing wild geese which are out of reach, barking up the wrong tree, seeking with a wagging tail the beautiful, elusive good; Or, like Swami Vivekananda describes, mind as monkey – restless, vain, vindictive, agile, watchful, quick to move, never quite at rest – and worse, intoxicated, selfish, full of pride; and worse again – cunning, drunken, angry, inventing enemies in its divided mind – Similes for one thing like another, metaphors for situations which connect in depth of mind like crossword clues which finally illuminate – ah yes, now I see what it’s getting at…and we're into a world of enchantment where the word makes all Creation one, and new... Like parables, they take us deeper, subtly tease the mind, and then dart round and past it like wingers on the football field thrilling our attention, their joyous goal touching our heart with the adventure and pointing it towards a boundless love; similes, metaphors, homely proverbs, parables – more difficult than thinking, easier than thought, magic.