Groping in the dark might not sound like the best way to face uncertainty, but the poem argues that it’s the only way to learn how to cope. Eventually, we find our way through the dark and our eyes adjust to whatever new situation presents itself to us. Near the end of the poem, the knowledge we’ve gained by groping in the darkness makes it possible for us to face the road ahead.
Questions About Wisdom and Knowledge
- How do we learn to see in the dark?
- How does the speaker know that we’ll get accustomed to uncertainty? Why do they seem so sure?
- What lessons do the “bravest” learn when they face an obstacle? What do they gain by facing it?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
There isn’t one specific piece of wisdom that can help with uncertainty; the speaker argues that we simply must face it and let ourselves grow accustomed to it.
If you walk into a tree, the next time, you’ll probably remember where it is and how to avoid it. Is that the type of knowledge gained in the poem?