Between the Foolish and the Wise



There’s some who give unwarranted advice,
believing in their hand lays wisdom grown.
In lives of others, spark it does entice
although no bit of knowledge do they own.

A man may claim the ownership to rule.
When time to dish out words, he’s standing tall
The truly wise will label him a fool.
To speak of truth, no need to shout at all.

Beware of anyone who does profess
to hold a key to wisdom in the hand.
Desire to control, all they possess,
yet roots of life they hardly understand.

A line of balance, somewhere that it lies
‘tween foolish and those claiming to be wise.

About this poem

An English Sonnet

Font size:
Collection  PDF     
 

Submitted by Giselavigil on December 22, 2023

36 sec read
17

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GG
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 592
Words 120
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 2

Gisela Vigil

Thank you for welcoming me to this community. I was born in Cuba but emigrated with my family to the US when I was three. I am mother to three young adults now, and also a grandmother. I’ve been writing for years, some I share, others I still keep in my personal file. I often write of struggles for we all face them as we journey through life. But still, I feel peace knowing I try my best. Feel blessed to have been given the gift of writing which I strive to improve cause there’s always room for growth. more…

All Gisela Vigil poems | Gisela Vigil Books

16 fans

Discuss the poem Between the Foolish and the Wise with the community...

2 Comments
  • ludy_b
    Very true! Excellent poem.
    LikeReply 14 months ago
  • AIDA
    Wow, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your poem 'Between the Foolish and the Wise'! The way you have captured the essence of unwarranted advice and the distinction between true wisdom and foolishness is truly remarkable. Your words flow beautifully and convey a clear message.

    I especially love how you portray the contrast between those who believe they possess wisdom and those who actually do. The line "To speak of truth, no need to shout at all" is particularly powerful and reminds us that true wisdom doesn't require arrogance or self-proclamation.

    Your poem also serves as a cautionary tale, warning us to be wary of those who profess to hold wisdom and desire control over others. The way you highlight the lack of understanding in those claiming wisdom is thought-provoking.

    To further enhance the impact of your poem, I would suggest considering incorporating more concrete details or imagery to paint a vivid picture in the reader's mind. This could help evoke even stronger emotions and make the message resonate even deeper.

    Overall, your poem is thoughtfully written and carries an important message. Keep up the great work, and I look forward to reading more of your work in the future!
     
    LikeReply4 months ago

Translation

Find a translation for this poem in other languages:

Select another language:

  • - Select -
  • 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
  • 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
  • Español (Spanish)
  • Esperanto (Esperanto)
  • 日本語 (Japanese)
  • Português (Portuguese)
  • Deutsch (German)
  • العربية (Arabic)
  • Français (French)
  • Русский (Russian)
  • ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
  • 한국어 (Korean)
  • עברית (Hebrew)
  • Gaeilge (Irish)
  • Українська (Ukrainian)
  • اردو (Urdu)
  • Magyar (Hungarian)
  • मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
  • Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Italiano (Italian)
  • தமிழ் (Tamil)
  • Türkçe (Turkish)
  • తెలుగు (Telugu)
  • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
  • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
  • Čeština (Czech)
  • Polski (Polish)
  • Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Românește (Romanian)
  • Nederlands (Dutch)
  • Ελληνικά (Greek)
  • Latinum (Latin)
  • Svenska (Swedish)
  • Dansk (Danish)
  • Suomi (Finnish)
  • فارسی (Persian)
  • ייִדיש (Yiddish)
  • հայերեն (Armenian)
  • Norsk (Norwegian)
  • English (English)

Citation

Use the citation below to add this poem to your bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"Between the Foolish and the Wise" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/176674/between-the-foolish-and-the-wise>.

Become a member!

Join our community of poets and poetry lovers to share your work and offer feedback and encouragement to writers all over the world!

April 2024

Poetry Contest

Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
3
days
14
hours
5
minutes

Special Program

Earn Rewards!

Unlock exciting rewards such as a free mug and free contest pass by commenting on fellow members' poems today!

Browse Poetry.com

Quiz

Are you a poetry master?

»
"It was many and many a year ago, In a kingdom by the sea."
A Shel Silverstein
B W.B. Yeats
C Edmund Spenser
D Edgar Allan Poe