Certainty

[intertext]

I am certain of nothing but the holiness of the heart's affections and the truth of the imagination (John Keats)

My creative writing students are a passionate bunch, and many of them are activists and advocates of causes. Today, I asked them to think about things they are _not_ certain of, because they seem so confident in their beliefs, and perhaps I feel that such absolutism is not safe these days.

That, of course, makes me wonder about what I AM certain of...

I am certain of warmth, and light, and laughter
I am certain of bread, and wine, and clear water
I am certain of friendship
I am certain of the love of my animals, of the new growth of plants in springtime, of the heat of the sun.
I am certain of poetry, of beauty, of the possibility of joy
I am certain of cruelty, of injustice, of humanity's potential for brutality,
But I am also certain of redemption, of hope,

of love.

Comments

[lidocafe.livejournal.com]

A very optimistic view.

Philosophically, I am certain of nothing, but that doesn't worry me much or keep me from making and honoring commitments.

[intertext.livejournal.com]

The class discussion after the uncertainty prompt was quite interesting. Some students seemed quite taken aback, and one even said that she didn't come to college to be asked to think for herself; she wanted to learn some "truth"!!

and yes, I think you are the person I would most trust to come through with a promise or a commitment.

[lidocafe.livejournal.com]

Well, I guess she did learn some truth--that she needs to think for herself!

I bet it was interesting, far more interesting, I'd warrant, than a discussion of what they are certain of.