What You Think You Know, You Don't

April 3, 2019

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is truth.

I welcome comments on my poems at https://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com .

A philosophical poem about the need for skepticism, especially when dealing with the truth about oneself:

What you think you know, you don't,

And what you don't, you do,

If you know that you don't know

What you think is true.

From inside out, you're pretty sure

That you are who you are.

But then, from outside in, some comment

Leaves a door ajar.

You cannot help but take a peek

At what your life has been

To someone else, a person whom

You now can glimpse within.

And there you are a stranger to

Yourself, for what you see

Is nothing like the person who

You thought that you would be.

So who are you? What's the truth

Of you? You'll never know.

For there is simply nothing, nothing,

Nothing simply so.

© by Nicholas Gordon

If you enjoyed this poem, please like, comment on, or share it so that it might be seen and enjoyed by others. To see this poem on my site, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/whatyo.html. For more philosophical poems, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/philosophicalpoems.html .

This week’s theme: Truth

4/1: Facts Are Less Reliable than Dreams

4/2: The Truth Is Far Too Truthful

4/3: What You Think You Know, You Don’t

The Truth Is Far Too Truthful

April 2, 2019

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is truth.

I welcome comments on my poems at https://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com .

A philosophical poem about the need to handle truth with care:

The truth is far too truthful for

The literalness of light.

Best to serve it tastefully

On little pools of night.

Secrets are as natural

As shadows in the sun.

Those who would tell all ought tell

A priest, a god, a stone.

There are parts of everyone

That no one wants to share.

Truth is good, but only when

It's detoxed with great care.

© by Nicholas Gordon

If you enjoyed this poem, please like, comment on, or share it so that it might be seen and enjoyed by others. To see this poem on my site, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/thetru.html. For more philosophical poems, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/philosophicalpoems.html .

This week’s theme: Truth

4/1: Facts Are Less Reliable than Dreams

4/2: The Truth Is Far Too Truthful

Facts Are Less Reliable than Dreams

April 1, 2019

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week, ironically for April Fool’s Day, is truth.

I welcome comments on my poems at https://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com .

A philosophical number poem about facts, dreams, and truths:

Facts are less reliable than dreams,

On which one’s future happiness depends.

Unless the moon of one’s ambitions gleams,

Reason will homogenize one’s ends.

There is no fact that goes beyond the fact,

Embracing all the bliss of what might be.

Each dream creates a truth the truth may lack,

Now sailing with the wind far out to sea!

© by Nicholas Gordon

If you enjoyed this poem, please like, comment on, or share it so that it might be seen and enjoyed by others. To see this poem on my site, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/facts2.html. For more philosophical poems, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/philosophicalpoems.html .

This week’s theme: Truth

4/1: Facts Are Less Reliable than Dreams

Become the Person That You Want to Be

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is children’s birthdays.

I welcome comments on my poems at https://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com .

A Bat-Mitzvah poem for a girl’s first Torah reading about the choice of faith:

Become the person that you want to be,

Always faithful to your better self,

The one you must be honest with, or else*

Miss the grace of inner unity.

If you don’t have faith, then that’s your truth,

Though you don’t need faith to be a Jew.

Zealous faith and prayer may not be you.

Values, symbols, memories need no proof.

A Jew is both by birthright and by choice.

Here’s the song – now lend it, or not, your voice.

*For a Bar-Mitzvah poem for a boy: … self./Remember to confide in it or else

© by Nicholas Gordon

If you enjoyed this poem, please like, comment on, or share it so that it might be seen and enjoyed by others. To see this poem on my site, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/become.html. For more poems about Judaism, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/jewishpoems.html .

This week’s theme: Children’s Birthdays

3/25: Brenda Is Four

3/26: You’re Five

3/27: Six Years Old? How Can That Be

3/28: You’re Seven Years Old

3/29: Eight Years Old! A Happy Time

3/30: Eleven Is the Very Best Age to Be

3/31: Become the Person That You Want to Be

Eleven Is the Very Best Age to Be

March 30, 2019

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is children’s birthdays.

I welcome comments on my poems at https://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com .

An eleventh birthday poem saying that each age is the best age equally:

Eleven is the very best age to be!

Like ten and twelve, thirteen, eight, and seven.

Each age is the best age equally.

Very strange, but true. And so eleven

Enters your life as the best age ever for you.

Now’s always best. Don’t you think so, too?

© by Nicholas Gordon

If you enjoyed this poem, please like, comment on, or share it so that it might be seen and enjoyed by others. To see this poem on my site, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/11isth.html. For more birthday poems, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/birthdaypoems.html .

This week’s theme: Children’s Birthdays

3/25: Brenda Is Four

3/26: You’re Five

3/27: Six Years Old? How Can That Be

3/28: You’re Seven Years Old

3/29: Eight Years Old! A Happy Time

3/30: Eleven Is the Very Best Age to Be

Eight Years Old! A Happy Time

March 29, 2019

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is children’s birthdays.

I welcome comments on my poems at https://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com .

An eighth birthday poem saying that eight is just the right age for an eight year old:

Eight years old! A happy time!

Is it just right for you?

Good! Because you aren’t nine!

Happiness comes to

Those who love what’s true.

© by Nicholas Gordon

If you enjoyed this poem, please like, comment on, or share it so that it might be seen and enjoyed by others. To see this poem on my site, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/8year2.html. For more birthday poems, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/birthdaypoems.html .

This week’s theme: Children’s Birthdays

3/25: Brenda Is Four

3/26: You’re Five

3/27: Six Years Old? How Can That Be

3/28: You’re Seven Years Old

3/29: Eight Years Old! A Happy Time

You're Seven Years Old

March 28, 2019

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is children’s birthdays.

I welcome comments on my poems at https://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com .

A seventh birthday poem about the birthday child as the star of the day:

You're seven years old! Hooray! Hooray!

Now isn't this your lucky day?

You'll get a cake, and presents, too,

And all this hoopla, just for you!

Now aren't you special? Aren't you great?

The person that we celebrate?

Oh, yes! Oh yes! You are! You are!

On your birthday, you're the star!

© by Nicholas Gordon

If you enjoyed this poem, please like, comment on, or share it so that it might be seen and enjoyed by others. To see this poem on my site, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/youre7.html. For more birthday poems, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/birthdaypoems.html .

This week’s theme: Children’s Birthdays

3/25: Brenda Is Four

3/26: You’re Five

3/27: Six Years Old? How Can That Be

3/28: You’re Seven Years Old