Why I'm Glad Dictionaries Don't Write Poetry

[Friends just call me Ross]

Below is a poem by a well-known author, written from a Dictionary's point of view.

How much of it can you translate?

 

Quote

The Pendulant Oscillator

In what manner accomplishes a person in general

to find it appealing to ascend skyward

astride a pendulant oscillator

to a higher position away from the earth

in a mixture of atmospheric gases

abundantly painted with the cool end of the color spectrum?

 

Expressing emotion, the speaker prepares to have in mind

the abstract entity, the most unobjectionable exploit—at any time—an unborn or recently born person

is permitted, by conscience, to accomplish!

 

To a higher position away from the earth in a mixture of atmospheric gases

and above the structure for enclosing something

until a person in general is permitted by conscience to perceive by the eye,

the extent indicated by a vast area,

natural streams of water in connection with tall woody plants

in addition to domesticated bovines,

in the greatest amount across the rural area—

 

Until a person in general directs one’s attention toward a lower position

in contact with the green plot for growing fruits, flowers or vegatables,

toward a lower position in contact with the dark or tanned upper covering part of a building—

 

To a higher position away from the earth in a mixture of atmospheric gases

a person in general proceeds to move through the air with wings

once more to a higher position away from the earth

in a mixture of atmospheric gases

plus once more toward a lower position!

I think I prefer the 'undefined' version. 

Spoiler

Quote

The Swing

BY ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON

 

How do you like to go up in a swing, 

   Up in the air so blue? 

Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing 

   Ever a child can do! 

 

Up in the air and over the wall, 

   Till I can see so wide, 

Rivers and trees and cattle and all 

   Over the countryside— 

 

Till I look down on the garden green, 

   Down on the roof so brown— 

Up in the air I go flying again, 

   Up in the air and down!

 

 

[Sheep]

Cute. 

[dove]

3 hours ago, Friends just call me Ross said:

Below is a poem by a well-known author, written from a Dictionary's point of view.

How much of it can you translate?

 

I think I prefer the 'undefined' version. 

  Hide contents

 

 

Isn't the first example what they call 'prose'? It doesn't have to rhyme.

I agree with you, the second one is what is called 'poetry' and more pleasing to read..

[Friends just call me Ross]

2 hours ago, Dove said:

Isn't the first example what they call 'prose'? It doesn't have to rhyme.

I agree with you, the second one is what is called 'poetry' and more pleasing to read..

The first part is the Dictionary's definitions of the words in Robert Louis Stevenson's poem, "The Swing".

 

Both the poet and the dictionary have a 'way with words'.

Both are capable of defining things.

 

I was merely trying to relate that I prefer the human brain's way of defining things

over the book's way.

 

 

[dove]

2 minutes ago, Friends just call me Ross said:

The first part is the Dictionary's definitions of the words in Robert Louis Stevenson's poem, "The Swing".

 

Both the poet and the dictionary have a 'way with words'.

Both are capable of defining things.

 

I was merely trying to relate that I prefer the human brain's way of defining things

over the book's way.

 

 

Oh now I get it lol

[EccentricM]

There's a deeper lesson here, on treating people as "souls" and not machines. Over time, people in neuro science and psychology have tried to treat us like our brains are just machines to be programmed, and products of random evolutionary changes and that all of our concepts of love, free will and so on are just "chemicals" without deeper meaning.

 

When you try to treat a person like a mindless machine, a large and important component goes missing, which is vital in someone's mental health and overall understanding of people themselves, and what it means to be made in God's image. This post is like a visual representation of that.