Do you mind explaining your philosophical reasoning for creating this poem. Also, what pillar of philosophy does this fall under? thanks.
Thank you for the questions! There isn’t really a philosophical reason for writing the poem. It’s impetus was simply my and my now wife’s first time at the beach together, within three weeks or so of having started to date.
At some level there is most likely a sort of Buddhism in it. But I don’t want to explain too much, as I fear it may ruin the experience of reading it for oneself.
I read a quote from this exact poem around two years ago in a fan-fiction. The writer credited you, but I still couldn’t find this work under your name so easily until I stumbled across this picture today. Though I didn’t fully understand what the poem meant, I still loved it so much that I saved it in my Notes app to read again now and then.
“…and this is life, floating in uncertainty, unstable. Shifting sands beneath our feet, but stable in the sharing, and the clasping of hands, and oneness of our being.”
16 was a difficult age for me; I panicked and was anxious often. Whenever I felt myself become anxious, I’d open my Notes app to read this quote. Eventually, I memorized it. I didn’t have the full context, but I didn’t really need to. There were nights I spent crying and nights where I felt like I couldn’t breathe. This calmed me down and made me feel okay, reminding me that life wasn’t a game meant for winning or losing. Life… just is.
I won’t be dramatic and say this quote saved my life entirely, but it definitely played a part, ringing in the back of my head when I felt like life was a game I wasn’t meant to win. Though I don’t know if you’ll read this or remember this poem at all, though I don’t know if you’ll care, I figured you should know how impactful your words have been.
I’m 18 now. Thank you. ^-^
B, I cannot adequately convey how lovely it was to read your comment, particularly given the timing of it. My dad died this past week from Covid, and my mother died of cancer back in November. I’m teaching online this semester, and just yesterday I informed my students about my dad’s death in a video I sent out. A number of students responded with heartfelt messages full of empathy and kindness. I don’t usually conceptualize myself as making any sort of difference in anyone’s life. Occasionally students will remind me that I do, but I quickly forget again, as it just seems too unlikely. Your comment came in the context of all of this and made my heart swell and gave me a deep joy at having written something that meant something to another human. That feeling of joy and connection is desperately needed in the current context. So, thank you so very much. May you well, may you be well.
Mr. Wrisley,
I wish I knew what to say. I’m terribly sorry to hear that, and I can only offer you my deepest sympathies.
To hear you say that my words could give you joy in such tough times though gives me great joy too. I really didn’t expect a response! It’s crazy to think about how valuable our words and thoughts can be and become, how they connect us as humans.
Well, I’m glad I shared this with you. Thank you for writing, and thank you for sharing with me as well. You’re in my thoughts. (っ˘ω˘ς )
5 thoughts on “Atlantica”
Do you mind explaining your philosophical reasoning for creating this poem. Also, what pillar of philosophy does this fall under? thanks.
Thank you for the questions! There isn’t really a philosophical reason for writing the poem. It’s impetus was simply my and my now wife’s first time at the beach together, within three weeks or so of having started to date.
At some level there is most likely a sort of Buddhism in it. But I don’t want to explain too much, as I fear it may ruin the experience of reading it for oneself.
I read a quote from this exact poem around two years ago in a fan-fiction. The writer credited you, but I still couldn’t find this work under your name so easily until I stumbled across this picture today. Though I didn’t fully understand what the poem meant, I still loved it so much that I saved it in my Notes app to read again now and then.
“…and this is life, floating in uncertainty, unstable. Shifting sands beneath our feet, but stable in the sharing, and the clasping of hands, and oneness of our being.”
16 was a difficult age for me; I panicked and was anxious often. Whenever I felt myself become anxious, I’d open my Notes app to read this quote. Eventually, I memorized it. I didn’t have the full context, but I didn’t really need to. There were nights I spent crying and nights where I felt like I couldn’t breathe. This calmed me down and made me feel okay, reminding me that life wasn’t a game meant for winning or losing. Life… just is.
I won’t be dramatic and say this quote saved my life entirely, but it definitely played a part, ringing in the back of my head when I felt like life was a game I wasn’t meant to win. Though I don’t know if you’ll read this or remember this poem at all, though I don’t know if you’ll care, I figured you should know how impactful your words have been.
I’m 18 now. Thank you. ^-^
B, I cannot adequately convey how lovely it was to read your comment, particularly given the timing of it. My dad died this past week from Covid, and my mother died of cancer back in November. I’m teaching online this semester, and just yesterday I informed my students about my dad’s death in a video I sent out. A number of students responded with heartfelt messages full of empathy and kindness. I don’t usually conceptualize myself as making any sort of difference in anyone’s life. Occasionally students will remind me that I do, but I quickly forget again, as it just seems too unlikely. Your comment came in the context of all of this and made my heart swell and gave me a deep joy at having written something that meant something to another human. That feeling of joy and connection is desperately needed in the current context. So, thank you so very much. May you well, may you be well.
Mr. Wrisley,
I wish I knew what to say. I’m terribly sorry to hear that, and I can only offer you my deepest sympathies.
To hear you say that my words could give you joy in such tough times though gives me great joy too. I really didn’t expect a response! It’s crazy to think about how valuable our words and thoughts can be and become, how they connect us as humans.
Well, I’m glad I shared this with you. Thank you for writing, and thank you for sharing with me as well. You’re in my thoughts. (っ˘ω˘ς )