Lost In Translation
From the spirit to the soul
From the soul to the heart
From the heart to the brain
From the brain to the throat
From the throat to the mouth
From one mouth to the next
From one language to another
Through the experiences
The perceptions
The assumptions
And the emotions of each listener
Changing
The original message
Is ever and forever
Lost in translation
And only if only
From knowing this much
Can we start to seek.
Or hope to find.
The real meaning.
Note: The original note to this poem requested advice to improve it, and this poem was improved after advice received, Thanks.
Aviva Rifka Bhandari
Sun 3rd Jan 2021 18:10
Thanks, Stephen, new meanings is certainly something I wanted the poem to convey but the poem needs to retain the duality of realising that the original meaning might not be properly uncovered, and of the creation of meaning by what we choose to understand and what we choose to do as a wide choice of many possibilities. But the poem as it is does feel unsettled and on edge as I reach the end of it and it could well be the fault of the last line. Here's a few other possible endings (putting the intention into words helps a lot).
And only if only
From knowing this much
Can we start to seek
Or hope to find
What is meant.
And only if only
From knowing this much
Can we start to seek
Or hope to find
The real meaning.
I'm really glad you opened the conversation for this.
I'm thinking maybe 'the real meaning' works best, but I'll have to let it brew a while first.