Philosophy by Nissim Ezekiel

Let us hear the philosophy of Nissim Ezekiel which he is giving, but when we go through the lines it really
strikes us with the idea contained in, rarely said, so nicely annotated and narrated, explained and
analyzed the philosophy of life in a quite discerning voice of his own. What cannot be explained, explain
you not. Who can but say it so elegantly? And here lies it the sobriety of thought, profundity of poetic
tradition, so private and personal. Nissim Ezekiel when he takes to the recourse to irony uses fun,
humour, comics and caricature but when he is on a different track chooses a thought of own. Philosophy
is one such poem. A modern poet, he sometimes strikes with his sense of modernity, modern idea and
expression.

There is a place which he often goes to, not by planning, but being drawn to, feeling within to be close,
getting attached to naturally. The flow as being such, driven by passion, emotion and feeling, he goes to.
Away from all existence, he goes to a cold lucidity whose will is uncontrolled and where the mills of God
are never slow. Retribution will finally come to.

The landscape in its geologic prime dissolves to show its quintessential slime. A million stars are blotted
out born out of the historic passion to create which but the sad eyes of Time viewed it all happening and
taking place. Time is static and all-pervasive, but the shapes will go changing. What it was is not, what it
is it will not be.

But the residues of meaning still remain as the darkest myths meander through pain to a final formula of
light. He too rejects that clarity of thought which accepts it the truth. If the things are beyond any
explanation and analysis, why to explain them? The darker things will remain darker; the mysteries
shrouded in mystery. Why to be after the unexplainable? What it is hidden, let it be.

The mundane things will remain mundane, the celestial celestial. Earthly and mundane marked by
commonness will return to their common bases. The common things will remain commonly. So, why to
be attached to?

The poem is as such that the beauty of it is unparalleled. Who can say the things of life and the world in
such a way? Who can analyze the philosophy of life in such a way? The perspective is physical, geological
and material apart from theological, but not blindly said and believed. Light and darkness are elemental
to this universe. The material aspects will mingle with finally as they have to be. The abstract will remain
abstract naturally. Rational and scientific thinking is the hidden perspective of this poem.

Philosophy is one of the best poems ever written by Nissim Ezekiel drawing parallels from those of
Cardinal Newman, John Milton and William Wordsworth. Cardinal Newman’s Lead, Kindly Light, John
Milton’s On His Blindness and William Wordsworth’s A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal. It is a poem of some
indifferent mood. It is not that he is surrendering before and the mood nay of utter submission.

The poem expresses his love for philosophy and philosophical reflections simply. The poet does not
brood over so much. He has nothing to search for deeper meanings. If the mysteries of life and the
world are top secrets, let them be. The world will remain as it was, the things of it with the base of their
inheritance. Whatever be our argument, the truth has a recourse of own to take to.

There is a place to which I often go,

Not by planning to, but by a flow
Away from all existence, to a cold
Lucidity, whose will is uncontrolled.
Here, the mills of God are never slow.

The landscape in its geological prime

Dissolves to show its quintessential slime.
A million stars are blotted out. I think
Of each historic passion as a blink
That happened to the sad eye of Time.

But residues of meaning still remain,

As darkest myths meander through the pain
Towards a final formula of light.
I, too, reject this clarity of sight.
What cannot be explained, do not explain.

The mundane language of the senses sings

Its own interpretations. Common things
Become, by virtue of their commonness,
An argument against their nakedness
That dies of cold to find the truth it brings.

Philosophy is all about the philosophy of life and the world, the darker myths leading unto. But what the
truth, what the reality, who can but say? We the mundane people interpret in our mundane ways. There
is nothing as to be celestial and extra devotional. The common things will remain, need to be commonly
explained.