NEW POEM: Wittgenstein's Lion

"If a lion could talk, we could not understand him", Wittgenstein once wrote. This theory of the barriers of language and comprehension, the collision of two worlds and the difficulties therein are sadly apparant in our time, amongst our own species. Humans have become so divided (politically, by age, by politcal correctness, by ever-changing definitions of what movements now stand for and protest about etc.) that we no longer hold sane discourse or reasoned debated. It is as if we are acting out the very thesis that Wittgenstein presented to us. If all the world is a stage, all the men are playing out a version of Wittgenstein's Lion.

The complex form of a villanelle seemed fitting for this piece. The idea that no matter how often you repeat something, your message isn't received or understood (perhaps deliberately) seemed to connect with the form. The sudden jolt to a four line stanza at the end only reiterates the challenges of communication, the limitations of our abilities to get the message across resulting in merely, half-heartedly repeating that which we have said before. As Ludwig Wittgenstein put it, "the limits of my language mean the limits of my world". I hope you enjoy my latets poem, "Wittgenstein's Lion".

Wittgenstein’s Lion

A Poem By Simon Clark

It’s like talking to a brick wall nowadays

Two opposing sides but worlds apart,

We’re acting out Wittgenstein’s Lion as a play.

Determined not to move on; they walk away,

Knowing soon the argument will start,

It’s like talking to a brick wall nowadays.

Russell and Wittgenstein parted – went their way,

People just memorised lines – not smart!

We’re acting out Wittgenstein’s Lion as a play.

Shouting won’t help you. Screw it, why not pray?

Screaming won’t clarify, you upstart!

It’s like talking to a brick wall nowadays.

It’s the same tomorrow and all yesterdays,

Don’t break the fourth wall or take to heart,

We’re acting out Wittgenstein’ Lion as a play.

We’ve only opinions, nothing more to say,

Silently mutter and then depart,

It’s like talking to a brick wall nowadays,

We’re acting out Wittgenstein’s Lion as a play.

Poem by Simon Clark ©