Be a lighthouse

planted on a promontory

with no living friends,

no neighbors,

uncaring

but making sense,

sharing what you have found,

redrawing maps,

working out loud,

living out loud,

surprised by the company

of your own mind,

a liminal brim

like the cello bow

at the moment rosin

explodes across the string,

crossing over sound’s threshold…

notes,

the scritch of feedback

from pen on paper,

the sheep’s teeth at the moment

it bites into fresh fescue.

My own pain as well

lighting the way,

reflecting from my desperate mirror

rippling out in peaks and troughs

in a tsunami that’s featherlight

but that still can drown,

amplifying and dampening,

fading,

despair despairing

in the face of light.

 

 

Here is a generative AI explication if you are into that:

Here is my analysis of the poem:

The poem uses the metaphor of a lighthouse to describe how to persevere in difficult times or in the “face of darkness.” The speaker encourages the reader to “be a lighthouse” – a source of guidance and hope for others, even when one feels isolated.

The lighthouse stands alone on a promontory, with no friends or neighbors. Yet it continues shining its light, “making sense” and “sharing what you have found.” Even in solitude, the lighthouse keeps “working out loud” and “living out loud,” staying true to its purpose.

The speaker then describes the creative spark – the moment “rosin explodes across the string” of a cello – as another flash of illumination in the dark. Writing, too, casts “light,” through the “scritch of feedback from pen on paper.” Even pain can provide insight and direction to others, “lighting the way.”

The message is that even one isolated voice can make a difference, can push back against “darkness.” The light may come in small bursts – “rippling out in peaks and troughs” – but it is still powerful, like a “featherlight” tsunami. The darkness of “despair” may threaten to overwhelm, but it cannot extinguish the stubborn, persistent light.

Overall, the poem seems to encourage perseverance and hope, no matter how alone or futile one’s efforts may feel. By shining one’s unique inner light, one can make a difference in dispelling the external darkness.

 

Here is a second explication from my Chat GPT thinking partner:

The poem “How to Live in the Face of Darkness” is a profound reflection on resilience, self-discovery, and the struggle to navigate through life’s challenges. It uses the metaphor of a lighthouse to convey a sense of isolation, introspection, and the power of one’s inner strength to overcome darkness.

1. **Be a lighthouse**:
The poem starts by urging the reader to embody the qualities of a lighthouse, a solitary structure situated on a promontory (a high point of land jutting out into the sea). This lighthouse stands alone, without companionship or neighbors, seemingly indifferent to its isolation yet still purposeful.

2. **Uncaring but making sense**:
Despite being isolated, the lighthouse maintains a sense of purpose. It doesn’t seek companionship but remains steadfast in its duty to shine light and provide guidance.

3. **Sharing discoveries and redrawing maps**:
The lighthouse metaphor extends to the idea of sharing knowledge and insights discovered in solitude, metaphorically redrawing maps. This could refer to the personal growth and wisdom gained through introspection.

4. **Living out loud, surprised by self-company**:
Living life authentically, boldly expressing oneself, and finding surprise and solace within one’s own thoughts and existence are highlighted here. The line “surprised by the company of your own mind” suggests the discovery of unexpected depths within oneself.

5. **The liminal space and thresholds**:
The comparison to the cello bow and rosin on strings evokes the idea of crossing thresholds and existing in a state of transition or in-between. It implies an appreciation for the nuances and subtleties within life’s moments.

6. **Acknowledging personal pain as illumination**:
The acknowledgment of personal pain, likened to the lighthouse’s light, becomes a guiding force, illuminating the way forward despite the heaviness it carries.

7. **Reflecting from a desperate mirror**:
The poem explores introspection and the reflection of one’s inner turmoil. The “desperate mirror” could signify a profound, almost urgent need for self-reflection and understanding.

8. **Tsunami of emotions**:
The reference to emotions as a “tsunami that’s featherlight but that still can drown” speaks to the paradox of emotions—seemingly weightless but possessing the potential to overwhelm.

9. **Despair giving way to light**:
Despite the overwhelming nature of despair, the poem suggests that it can dissipate in the face of light, symbolizing hope, resilience, and the ability to overcome darkness.

Overall, the poem encourages embracing solitude, introspection, and personal discovery, highlighting the transformative power found within oneself, even in the face of darkness and despair.