Symmetry?
we are equal, n'est pas?33 total reviews
Comment from AvL
In "Symmetry?," V. T. performs a vertical high-wire act (!) on that flimsy cord that we call the "gender-divide." The result is, of course, asymmetry, as in real-life, since there can never be complete, point-for-point equality between the two sexes. Certain critical readers might object to Victor's assertions WRT women and men in, respectively, stanzas one and two. My only grouse concerns that pronoun that opens stanza three: Does "They" refer to men? to women? to both? Perhaps our poet has left the answer deliberately ambiguous. Well-done.
And now a word from the logical side of my cerebrum: That question in French that is superimposed over this poem should be " ... n'est-ce pas?" Pardonnez-moi, s'il vous plait, mais je suis tres pedantique ...
AvL
reply by the author on 06-Dec-2019
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In "Symmetry?," V. T. performs a vertical high-wire act (!) on that flimsy cord that we call the "gender-divide." The result is, of course, asymmetry, as in real-life, since there can never be complete, point-for-point equality between the two sexes. Certain critical readers might object to Victor's assertions WRT women and men in, respectively, stanzas one and two. My only grouse concerns that pronoun that opens stanza three: Does "They" refer to men? to women? to both? Perhaps our poet has left the answer deliberately ambiguous. Well-done.
And now a word from the logical side of my cerebrum: That question in French that is superimposed over this poem should be " ... n'est-ce pas?" Pardonnez-moi, s'il vous plait, mais je suis tres pedantique ...
AvL
Comment Written 03-Dec-2019
reply by the author on 06-Dec-2019
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Gott in himmel, es passiert wieder. Zwei mal habe ich die ganze text veloren. Scheisse. Ein mal mehr. Dan, alles ist vorbei. Ich hatte franzosich im univeritat. Das war viele yarhen vorher. Aber, Ich erinne das "contraction" von "ne ce est pas" war "n' est pas." Oder, vielleicht "ne c'est pas." But I think ne c'est pas was further contracted to n'est pas. Non? BTW, you are a riot. Doug
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Und...pedantic, sind sie nicht. LOL
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Pedantische, auf Deutsch.
AvL
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Ha ha. That is why I used anglais.
Too lazy to go to Google translate.
I bow to ur intellect.
Doug
Comment from BlueTiger
Interesting post, and I think you bring up a fair point. While everyone is equal as far as their worth, it's true that men and women have different strengths and weaknesses, and real masculinity isn't appreciated in the way it should be. I recently read The War Against Boys by Christina Sommers, which makes some good points about this.
Anyway, good post, looking forward to reading more from you.
-BT
reply by the author on 02-Dec-2019
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Interesting post, and I think you bring up a fair point. While everyone is equal as far as their worth, it's true that men and women have different strengths and weaknesses, and real masculinity isn't appreciated in the way it should be. I recently read The War Against Boys by Christina Sommers, which makes some good points about this.
Anyway, good post, looking forward to reading more from you.
-BT
Comment Written 02-Dec-2019
reply by the author on 02-Dec-2019
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Thank you very much BT. Doug
Comment from Y. M. Roger
I think we should all realize there's NO ONE place that works for everyone, male or female -- the fact is, certain things work for some couples and certain things don't: NOTHING is WRONG with any of them... It gets so freaking confusing with loud feminine voices hollering about 'equal' that they forget to just do their job! I was a Physicist (worked for NASA and the military) in the eighties -- ran into some "good ol' boy" crap, but proved I was better than most of my counter-parts (and many of my superiors) at what I did and ended up making more than most because of it... and not one damn time did I stop to whine and say 'poor me' like these insane females today!! Okay, so enough of the rant, Doug -- suffice to say, it is NOT necessary to DEGRADE men just to UPGRADE women. Period. Your sentiment here makes me sick to my stomach for my boys as I've watched them come up against this 'thing' against men in recent years... makes mama bear just a wee bit angry! :) Thanx for sharing, sir -- great thought-provoker in but few words... :) Yvette
reply by the author on 02-Dec-2019
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I think we should all realize there's NO ONE place that works for everyone, male or female -- the fact is, certain things work for some couples and certain things don't: NOTHING is WRONG with any of them... It gets so freaking confusing with loud feminine voices hollering about 'equal' that they forget to just do their job! I was a Physicist (worked for NASA and the military) in the eighties -- ran into some "good ol' boy" crap, but proved I was better than most of my counter-parts (and many of my superiors) at what I did and ended up making more than most because of it... and not one damn time did I stop to whine and say 'poor me' like these insane females today!! Okay, so enough of the rant, Doug -- suffice to say, it is NOT necessary to DEGRADE men just to UPGRADE women. Period. Your sentiment here makes me sick to my stomach for my boys as I've watched them come up against this 'thing' against men in recent years... makes mama bear just a wee bit angry! :) Thanx for sharing, sir -- great thought-provoker in but few words... :) Yvette
Comment Written 02-Dec-2019
reply by the author on 02-Dec-2019
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Well, as I hope you imagine, I completely agree with you. I thought about not posting this and/or the debate that would have to occur. And...I wasn't completely sure as to how to go about it. Almost anything I would write, especially if i tried to become poignant, seemed to lean to hard to one side or the other. Eventually, I just said the hell with it, and tried to simply say-"Hey, ladies, I'm all for ya, but I think the pendulum, (politically, anyway), has swung a bit too far. Thanks for your "erudite" (lol, didn't even have to look that one up) elucidation on the subject. (Which was what again?)
Comment from Janice Canerdy
Your ultra-concise poetic statement is thought-provoking and, in so many cases, TRUE. I know preachers who would also say so! I have heard several sermons about husbands who won't step up and be the leaders (spiritual, especially) of their homes, forcing wives to fill the void.
reply by the author on 02-Dec-2019
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Your ultra-concise poetic statement is thought-provoking and, in so many cases, TRUE. I know preachers who would also say so! I have heard several sermons about husbands who won't step up and be the leaders (spiritual, especially) of their homes, forcing wives to fill the void.
Comment Written 02-Dec-2019
reply by the author on 02-Dec-2019
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Thank you, Janice. It was kind of short, eh?
Comment from Dorothy Farrell
Helo Victor, 'we are equal, n'est pas?' - NON! LOL! But maybe the gap is closing a bit. Men will now push a baby in a pram and a woman will not expect to be helped on to a bus. Roles are intermingling - but women will always be superior at multi-tasking. LOL Regards Dorothy
reply by the author on 02-Dec-2019
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Helo Victor, 'we are equal, n'est pas?' - NON! LOL! But maybe the gap is closing a bit. Men will now push a baby in a pram and a woman will not expect to be helped on to a bus. Roles are intermingling - but women will always be superior at multi-tasking. LOL Regards Dorothy
Comment Written 02-Dec-2019
reply by the author on 02-Dec-2019
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No doubt about that. Women are made to0 multitask. Men are not. Women have FAR more interconnections between the right and left hemispheres of the brain. Thank you. Doug
Comment from Brenda Elizabeth Rose
An interesting little poem on women and men. You are right men are molded into what a man should be. Women now can chose what they want to be. Clever in the way you used one word on one line, it worked. Thank you for sharing. Blessings. ~Brenda
reply by the author on 02-Dec-2019
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An interesting little poem on women and men. You are right men are molded into what a man should be. Women now can chose what they want to be. Clever in the way you used one word on one line, it worked. Thank you for sharing. Blessings. ~Brenda
Comment Written 02-Dec-2019
reply by the author on 02-Dec-2019
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Thank you, Brenda.
Comment from Sanku
You are always appreciated. Inspite all the feminist preoccupation which I believe is mostly photo ops, I still regret it is a man's world. Every time I go through the fashion pages and see the gowns -women dress up for male appreciation and my anger is that men do not bother to show off their six packs or biceps unless it is on a beach.why do they still prefer to be coated and suited? I used to wonder why cant men have little black suits for cocktail parties! Don't they want feminine appreciation?
And most of the designers for women are men!I liked the staccato style very much.
reply by the author on 02-Dec-2019
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You are always appreciated. Inspite all the feminist preoccupation which I believe is mostly photo ops, I still regret it is a man's world. Every time I go through the fashion pages and see the gowns -women dress up for male appreciation and my anger is that men do not bother to show off their six packs or biceps unless it is on a beach.why do they still prefer to be coated and suited? I used to wonder why cant men have little black suits for cocktail parties! Don't they want feminine appreciation?
And most of the designers for women are men!I liked the staccato style very much.
Comment Written 02-Dec-2019
reply by the author on 02-Dec-2019
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Ha ha. I have to think about all you said. Thanks. Doug
Comment from rhymelord
Dear Victor,
Shades of Germaine Greer et al, but oh so right. The process of male emasculation seems well established since she first wrote "The female eunuch".
Ah me! Oh for the days of our fathers.
Regards
Reg
reply by the author on 02-Dec-2019
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Dear Victor,
Shades of Germaine Greer et al, but oh so right. The process of male emasculation seems well established since she first wrote "The female eunuch".
Ah me! Oh for the days of our fathers.
Regards
Reg
Comment Written 02-Dec-2019
reply by the author on 02-Dec-2019
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BTW, when approx did she write this? I am afraid I missed it, and another reviewer also mentioned this. Thanks. Doug
Comment from Patty Palmer
Well, it looks like some have found their place in life. And I think some are disappointed because they thought they held a higher value. Women decided a long time ago they weren't going to keep this "little woman" business! LOL
Patty
reply by the author on 02-Dec-2019
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Well, it looks like some have found their place in life. And I think some are disappointed because they thought they held a higher value. Women decided a long time ago they weren't going to keep this "little woman" business! LOL
Patty
Comment Written 02-Dec-2019
reply by the author on 02-Dec-2019
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Amen. I have a biological education. I have always considered women different but equal. It really does astound me, (especially in Western civilization), that this isn't simply obvious. And if you have a daughter, for Christ's sake...you don't consider her equal to anybody and everybody? Give me a break. Still, I kind of always did enjoy the role of underdog. Underdog-wasn't he a cartoon character? With Miss Polly Purebread? Oh, I ramble. Excuse' moi.
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You nut! Yes, Underdog was a cartoon character that wore a cape and flew around saving people from dastardly deeds.Have a great day!
Patty
Comment from CrystieCookie999
This is a socio-political poem but brief in a tone of observation. The sparse style makes the reader think about each individual word on each individual line. I think I would take the comma out after "Women," and "Men," and that's all I would change. Interesting post.
reply by the author on 02-Dec-2019
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This is a socio-political poem but brief in a tone of observation. The sparse style makes the reader think about each individual word on each individual line. I think I would take the comma out after "Women," and "Men," and that's all I would change. Interesting post.
Comment Written 02-Dec-2019
reply by the author on 02-Dec-2019
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Thank you.
