The air was thick with anticipation,
as they huddled close together, grateful
for borrowed breath from world.
The clouds swirl about like gauzy curtains,
as a series of wild thoughts swam into
their heads, as though awaiting unseen
winds and spirits.
In life we are drawn to everything
strange and surreal and at times care not
if theory seems far-fetched.
We can see the ugly words that hurt,
or the pain that lies underneath, often we
fall into this trap and confuse looking
with seeing.
And though black remains black, and
white would always be white, our eyes
only see what our mind chooses
to fathom.
Photo credits: Circus, Budapest, 19 May 1920
Posted on ‘Camera Flash’ @ Real Toads
and on ‘Poetry Pantry’ @ Poets United
What an intriguing gift is our perception. Thanks for a nice write. Happy Saturday Sanaa
much love…
Thank you so much, Gillena 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
Happy Saturday to you too!❤️
Yes, we often do look but don’t see, and how sad the world for it.
How easy it is to see the world in black and white, when it is the grey areas that really matter. But ignorance is bliss – or is it?
Anna :o]
Definitely 🙂 thanks for stopping by, Anna ❤️
In life we are drawn to everything
strange and surreal and at times care not
if theory seems far-fetched.
This is such an accurate observation, Sanaa.
Thank you so much, Kerry ☺️ so glad you liked it ❤️
(and thank you for the lovely prompt)
We do tend to stare at things without meaning… maybe it’s an intention to make us look the other way.
Definitely ☺️ thanks for stopping by, Bjorn ❤️
“…our eyes only see what our mind chooses to fathom”. This is so true…. and so evident when you have an argument ( the epitome of not being on the same page). That’s why it’s good to wake up and smell the coffee.. 🙂 🙂
Definitely 😀 thanks for stopping by, Vivian ❤️
“our eyes only see what our mind chooses to fathom. ” So true, Sanaa, we must work at having the courage to see unwanted images or understand different concepts. 🙂
Thank you so much, Ellecee 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
How often we are swayed by ther opinion or dictates of others. You have certainly got that right Sanaa, I think we should always put ourselves in others shoes to see things from their viewpoint. The picture is so warming and a reminder of that.
Thank you so much, Robin 😀 so good to see you ❤️
That last stanza is amazing Sanaa! This is a new favorite of yours for me!
Awww gosh!❤️ Thank you so much, Carrie 😀 so glad you enjoyed it!❤️
Wow this is vast.
Thank you so much, Eric 😀 so good to see you ❤️
What a wise poem this is. Confusing looking with seeing is something we have all done, probably unaware of it.
Thank you so much, Sara 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
I love the first stanza, Sanaa, which captures the image perfectly, and the third and final stanzas sum up the fascination with circuses so well.
Thank you so much, Kim 😀 so glad you enjoyed it ❤️
confuse looking with seeing… so true Sanaa!
Thank you so much, Rajani 🙂 so good to see you ❤️
A wonderful close Sanaa – we certainly do see what we want or what we expect, or at least we are more likely to. Your poem stresses the importance of imagination as well as openness. Thanks. k.
Thank you so much, Karin 🙂 so glad you liked it ❤️
Yes, our eyes may be selective in what they take in! You have created a vivid picture here really; and it seems sometime that black and white are relative.
Thank you so much, Mary ☺️ so good to see you ❤️
Your poem reminds me of supporters of he current U.S. president, who is clearly not capable of doing the job, but his supporters think he’s doing a fine job in every respect. What??? As your poem says:
our eyes
only see what our mind chooses
to fathom.
Definitely 😊 thanks for stopping by, MMT ❤️
So true, everything is colored by our perception, we see things in ways that others do not, open to interpretation. 😊
Thank you so much, Loredana ☺️ so glad you liked it ❤️
Unfortunately my rose coloured spectacles often leave me thinking some people and situations are better than they really are. A very perceptive piece of writing Sanaa. 🙂
Thank you so much, Paul ☺️ so good to see you ❤️
Have a happy Sunday Sanaa
much love…
You too!❤️ Happy Sunday Gillena ☺️
It is all about our perception of what is happening…that is the key to happiness. So I prefer to see black and white as shades of gray!
Thank you so much, Donna ☺️ so glad you liked it ❤️
I am struck by how we often confuse looking with seeing…….and how we see through our own filter and perspective, a fact i am noting especially right now.
Thank you so much, Sherry 😊 so glad you liked it ❤
Perception is a personal hunger, isn’t it? It will eat what it wants and refuse to taste what it can’t see.
So much wisdom in this poem, and a perfect ending.
The last stanza is very true Sanaa. An excellent write and different from your usual style. I like it.
Thank you so much, Toni 😊 so good to see you ❤
Thank you so much, Magaly 😊 so glad you enjoyed it ❤
“grateful for borrowed breath” … Beautiful.
“In life we are drawn to everything
strange and surreal” … What an outstanding line break.
“And though black remains black … our eyes
only see what our mind chooses
to fathom.” … Excellent closing stanza.
Thank you so much, Belle 😊 so glad you liked it ❤
This poem is such a wise observation of how we perceive. Some say, “What we perceive is our reality.” Your poem says it in such a nicer, more profound way.
Awww gosh!❤️ Thank you so much, Myrna ☺️ so glad you enjoyed it!❤️
Bravo!
☺️
Sadly we too often see with another’s eyes or don’t see at all. Great writing!
Thank you so much, Susie ☺️ so glad you liked it ❤️
Ooh, you’re getting deep with this one! A most intriguing scene, and write.
Thank you so much, Rosemary ☺️ so glad you enjoyed it ❤️
Wow…a good piece!
Thank you so much, Ayala ☺️ so glad you liked it ❤️
You describe the couple as being open to seeing, anticipating, but not predetermining. I hope they are not caught in the trap/truth your poem ends with!
Thank you so much, Susan ☺️ so glad you liked it ❤️
As always, Sanaa – brilliant, insightful and beautifully rendered.
Thank you so much, Wendy ☺️ so good to see you ❤️
so much to fathom here. liked what you said about the difference between ‘looking’ and seeing’.
wonderful piece of writing!
Thank you so much, dsnake ☺️ so glad you enjoyed it ❤️
fall into this trap and
confuse looking with seeing
So much wisdom in those able to differentiate and able to be ‘seeing’ and to appreciate more
Hank
Thank you so much, Hank 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
I enjoyed this … especially how each stanza stands on its own!!
Thank you so much, Helen 😀 so glad you enjoyed it ❤️