Drawing by M.C. Escher‘Illusion’ by James A. Tweedie The Society September 22, 2022 Humor, Poetry 10 Comments . Illusion At times we can’t tell what we’re looking at. It could be this or else it could be that. A beautiful young woman? Or old hag? Do lines run parallel or zig and zag? Two silhouetted faces face-to-face? Or is it just the outline of a vase? And is that spiraled line continuous? Or just concentric, falsely sinuous? Is that a green oasis or mirage? A space too large or small in a garage? Is one of two lines longer than the other? Or are they equally the same? Oh, brother! Perhaps our lives are riddled with confusion Because the world is riddled with illusion. For could it be that what we think we see Is only virtual reality? We like to think we always see things clearly, But there are times the best we see is “nearly.” As if creation’s beauty is so fetching Because we’re in an M.C. Escher etching. . . James A. Tweedie is a retired pastor living in Long Beach, Washington. He has written and published six novels, one collection of short stories, and three collections of poetry including Mostly Sonnets, all with Dunecrest Press. His poems have been published nationally and internationally in The Lyric, Poetry Salzburg (Austria) Review, California Quarterly, Asses of Parnassus, Lighten Up Online, Better than Starbucks, Dwell Time, Light, Deronda Review, The Road Not Taken, Fevers of the Mind, Sparks of Calliope, Dancing Poetry, WestWard Quarterly, Society of Classical Poets, and The Chained Muse. He was honored with being chosen as the winner of the 2021 SCP International Poetry Competition. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. Trending now: 10 Responses Roy E. Peterson September 22, 2022 James, you have captured those pictures of illusions brilliantly that I often see on social media. The longer I stare at them the more they switch from one virtual reality to the other. Excellent poetic concept and verbal enhancement! Reply Paul Freeman September 22, 2022 A weird coincidence, but today I started writing a prose piece on the prompt of ‘queue’, in which someone finds himself queuing and walking forever down M.C. Escher ‘s famous steps. You’ve captured these famous illusions well, James. Oh, Brother! Reply Brian Yapko September 22, 2022 James, a unique subject, some very enjoyable poetry and a good reminder to double-check what it is we think we see. There is indeed a world of difference between “clearly” and “nearly.” Reply Jeff Eardley September 22, 2022 Mr Tweedie, this optical trickery is fascinating. I have often seen many images and was not aware that they were attributable to Mr. Escher. Thank you for a most entertaining and informative piece. Reply David Paul Behrens September 22, 2022 What an outstanding concept! I have often wondered if, after we die, we discover the whole thing was only virtual reality. This is a great poem. Reply Stephen Dickey September 22, 2022 Very enjoyable! I’m a sucker for M. C. Escher. I’ve wondered whether the Dutch language helped him along in his art—its word for ‘storey/floor’ is the same as its word for ‘deepening’—verdieping. If you ever find yourself in The Hague, his house in the downtown has been turned into a gallery. It’s worth a visit. Reply Tonia Kalouria September 22, 2022 Who knows what to believe anymore, any time, anywhere about anything? Great metaphor! Reply David Watt September 23, 2022 James, you have chosen a fascinating subject for this poem, and written it so well. A great reminder that reality is not always what we see. Reply David Whippman September 24, 2022 Your poem complements Escher’s work nicely. I remember discovering him in a sci fi magazine in the late 1960s. Now you’ve put the words to his imaginings. Reply Rachel Lott October 28, 2022 It’s always fun to watch my middle-school students analyze optical illusions in logic and philosophy classes. Do illusions discredit our senses or not? I really like the directions you go with this poem, James. “Perhaps our lives are riddled with confusion Because the world is riddled with illusion”! Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Roy E. Peterson September 22, 2022 James, you have captured those pictures of illusions brilliantly that I often see on social media. The longer I stare at them the more they switch from one virtual reality to the other. Excellent poetic concept and verbal enhancement! Reply
Paul Freeman September 22, 2022 A weird coincidence, but today I started writing a prose piece on the prompt of ‘queue’, in which someone finds himself queuing and walking forever down M.C. Escher ‘s famous steps. You’ve captured these famous illusions well, James. Oh, Brother! Reply
Brian Yapko September 22, 2022 James, a unique subject, some very enjoyable poetry and a good reminder to double-check what it is we think we see. There is indeed a world of difference between “clearly” and “nearly.” Reply
Jeff Eardley September 22, 2022 Mr Tweedie, this optical trickery is fascinating. I have often seen many images and was not aware that they were attributable to Mr. Escher. Thank you for a most entertaining and informative piece. Reply
David Paul Behrens September 22, 2022 What an outstanding concept! I have often wondered if, after we die, we discover the whole thing was only virtual reality. This is a great poem. Reply
Stephen Dickey September 22, 2022 Very enjoyable! I’m a sucker for M. C. Escher. I’ve wondered whether the Dutch language helped him along in his art—its word for ‘storey/floor’ is the same as its word for ‘deepening’—verdieping. If you ever find yourself in The Hague, his house in the downtown has been turned into a gallery. It’s worth a visit. Reply
Tonia Kalouria September 22, 2022 Who knows what to believe anymore, any time, anywhere about anything? Great metaphor! Reply
David Watt September 23, 2022 James, you have chosen a fascinating subject for this poem, and written it so well. A great reminder that reality is not always what we see. Reply
David Whippman September 24, 2022 Your poem complements Escher’s work nicely. I remember discovering him in a sci fi magazine in the late 1960s. Now you’ve put the words to his imaginings. Reply
Rachel Lott October 28, 2022 It’s always fun to watch my middle-school students analyze optical illusions in logic and philosophy classes. Do illusions discredit our senses or not? I really like the directions you go with this poem, James. “Perhaps our lives are riddled with confusion Because the world is riddled with illusion”! Reply
