POETRY JAM - BALLAD

“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” – Socrates
 

Poetry Jam is a meme that relates to a creative challenge issued by Mary on her blog of the same name. This week the challenge is:

•    To think of what you KNOW for sure and write about it

•    To think of what you DON’T know for sure and write about it

•    To think about what you WISH you knew for sure and write about it

•    To use one of the above quotes as inspiration for your poem

Here is my offering:

The quote by Socrates that begins this entry today made me ponder somewhat about the things that I know for sure. “Know” is a tricky word because many of us use it in ways that are not altogether the way that the meaning of the word is given by the dictionary. Which immediately made me look it up, and herewith the three main meanings of the word!

know |nəʊ|: verb ( past knew |njuː|; past participle known |nəʊn| )

1 [with clause] be aware of through observation, inquiry, or information: Most people know that CFCs can damage the ozone layer | I know what I’m doing.

• [with obj.] have knowledge or information concerning: I would write to him if I knew his address | [no obj.]: I know of one local who shot himself.

• be absolutely certain or sure about something: I just knew it was something I wanted to do | [with obj.] : I knew it!

2 [with obj.] have developed a relationship with (someone) through meeting and spending time with them; be familiar or friendly with: He knew and respected Laura.

• have a good command of (a subject or language).

• recognise (someone or something): Isabel couldn’t hear the words clearly but she knew the voice.

• be familiar or acquainted with (something): A little restaurant she knew near Leicester Square.

• have personal experience of (an emotion or situation): A man who had known better times.

• (usu. be known as) regard or perceive as having a specified characteristic: The loch is known as a dangerous area for swimming.

• (usu. be known as) give (someone or something) a particular name or title: The doctor was universally known as ‘Hubert’.

• (know someone/thing from) be able to distinguish one person or thing from (another): You are convinced you know your own baby from any other in the world.

3 [with obj.] archaic have sexual intercourse with (someone). [a Hebraism which has passed into modern languages; compare with German erkennen, French connaître.]

And hence to the challenge: I know that I love my sweetheart. Does my sweetheart love me? I wish I knew for sure if my sweetheart loved me!

Ballad

My love loves so true

All the green leaves in Springtime;

My love loves the blooms and the breeze.

The doves on the wing

The splash of the fountain,

The laugh of a child.

My love loves so well

The gold dancing wheat fields,

The poppies, the song of the lark.

A cool murmuring brooklet

In the deep shady forest

Away from the midsummer’s heat.

My love loves so much

All the bright hues of autumn

The big cool drops of rain.

The scent of wet earth,

The ripe berries

The taste of sweet young wine.

My love loves so true

Each winter snowflake,

My love loves the sighs of the wind.

The crackle of fire blazing,

The mirror of lake frozen, wan.

My love loves all of these,

But my love loves me not,

My love loves me not.