Truth be known
Poem: Truth be known
In all honesty,
I have to speak of potential possibilities.
The truth is nothing more than a retrospective interpretation.
Say it to yourself often enough… get others to believe in it too.
The news is the news right?
Facts are facts right?
Apply oxygen and cross your fingers
See what happens.
Review:Truth be known
The poet is unpacking the state of the meaning of what is true, the integrity of truth.
That is a mighty task is it not? Especially now-a-days as it appears ‘everyone’ is an expert. What else would an ‘expert’ be speaking of if not ‘the truth?’ – it’s certainly their version of it but is it the right thing? The right thing for the situation that it has presented itself in? The stage/arena?
How it is being said, by whom and how often is of utmost importance for the message to penetrate and to become a ’truth’ right?
Trust is needed and not an ‘on the surface’ convincing veneer of a puppet show with a ‘loud mouth’ conducting a speech!
We need some wise words handed down from generation to generation without the interruption of a forceful contrived media culture that impolitely nudges the ‘sage’ in society out of the way with distractions (again, lots more stories for future times!)
The opening line of ‘I have to speak of potential possibilities.’ speaks loudly to me. That statement is the truth is it not? The poet isn’t taking everything that they come across or have been exposed to as ‘a given’ It’s not automatically factual. Are they willing to believe it? I don’t think so. Like most artists, and the nature of art, the poet is an observer, interprets and reflects. They are not an instant doubter as that would be awful to not have any faith at all in humanity. One would be short-changing oneself and living in fear. The poet is willing to accept that there are a lot of ‘could be’s’ on the road to a truth.
The version of truths that the poet is aware of is one big ‘IF’
The poet appears to feel safer by looking back at what actually has occurred in the past as being the truth because it has happened and is there to be learnt from.
It seems that they have empowered themselves by staying in a safety zone of ‘the not holding of breath’ and the ‘not believing it until they see it’ The word ‘potential’ sounds like a safety shield of a word to not get hopes up. The word ‘possibilities’ offers options that could indeed occur. The poet is relying on what has been and gone to have proved itself and not to believe in a future that is not yet here! In the meantime, is there a pattern emerging? Strong clues to determine how things could end up? The same old, same old, same old? Repetition, repetition, repetition? – Bang! – there’s a truth right there, is it not? Think about it… Patterns are powerful.
To say something to yourself often enough is also powerful. What or who is it that determines that speech to self is also a powerful force. What are the messages that communicate loudly and penetrate deeply?
Facts are facts and if enough ‘oxygen’, as the poet observes, is given to it, then it is alive. That can be good or bad.
The ‘crossing of fingers’ at the end and ‘seeing what happens’ looks like an acute observation where a touch of ‘luck’ is needed? Perhaps that of one or two politicians? As I write this today there has been a cabinet reshuffle in the country.(I’ll leave it to the reader to come to their own conclusions on that bit of news with the thought of ‘patterns’ in mind!)
A great little read where the poet’s observations can be applied to various scenarios in life. I’ll be keeping an eye on number 10 but as I have said, patterns are patterns – they reveal what is likely to happen next and that is the repetition of itself! Have a think! That is what is likely to take place – the truth!
Like the title of the poem, ‘truth be known’ and in this instance, it’s glaring, many see it, it cannot hide!