Twain of Thought

I did great in school until I ran into geometry.

I was a voracious reader, arithmetic whiz, geographic pathfinder, history buff, scientific fanatic,catechismic memory machine,algebraeic ace, quintuple threat scholar who had never been stumped or intimidated by intellectual pursuit. Always knew the answer, always had my hand up. Always the teacher's pet and the comedian of the class.

A future of unlimited possibility.

Then along came Geometry and out the window went my scholastic confidence.

Suddenly I didn't know the answers because I couldn't even figure out the questions.

No idea from the word congruent.

In retrospect, I begin to understand the problem.

I am an analytical type guy, who loves to solve problems.

I didn't realize that's what geometry was all about.

Only lately has it dawned on me that theorem is just another word for theory.

Why my geometry teacher didn't make that clear to me is an essential mystery.

In geometry, we test theory based upon the application of axiom.

I'm good with that.

Most of my life, I've been confronted with dogma passing as axiom sometimes disguised as shibboleth.

I've been puncturing dogma with axiomatic delight at every opportunity while using that same delight to turn the barell of creativity on the kaleidoscope of experience.

In the literary sense we call that process syllogism.

In the geometric realm that process was referred to as "proof".

Geometry and literature are much closer than I ever imagined.

The Twain shall meet in a circle.

Mark my words.

Every dogma must have its day

Until an axiom wipes it away

Perception only rents the ship

Until its time to flip the script.

Literary analysis, however, is equally flawed with dogma.

Here's one I read today.

The nemesis of worldly strength is spiritual weakness.