Do you ever envy Sponge Bob?

Question

Poriferal Vision

I have always known,

Yet it is just now that I

Am realizing

That I am not a very well

Educated man;

I wonder the brain--

Is it like a sponge?

Very absorbent

When young,

Constantly staying damp,

Never truly saturated

Unless completely

Submerged in thought

--Liquid of all that is all--

Is it full.

That is never the case.

Mind, my sponge,

My two sided, cleaning utensil:

One side rough

For stubborn stains

The other . . .

Abused and wrung out creature of the sea,

Everyday soaking

Up something new,

To be wrung out again.

The outer surface

Drying fast,

The inner

Damp, warm

Beginning a whole new culture

Of thought!

Any suggestion on line breaks and punctuation appreciated.

Answer 1

This is an interesting piece for a few reasons.  Clearly, the mind as sponge is a time-worn metaphor, but you have given it some interesting turns.  For example, your aposiopesis in L6, viz.  "I wonder the brain --" leaves us to wonder if you are contemplating a characterization of the brain for which the sponge is the best metaphor at hand.  Intriguingly, we often reach for the time-worn where language fails us, and that plays into the revelation of your opening lines perfectly.  Your characterization of thought as " Liquid of all that is all" points to the fluidity of consciousness as well as its comprehensive nature. Mind as "two sided cleaning utensil" points irresistibly towards the understanding that the mind is a difference engine and that information arises from its operation (an idea popularized decades ago by Arthur Koestler). "Wrung out creature of the sea" is a beautiful metaphor because it serves as a subtle reminder that the mind is both cognitive engine and the seat of emotion, one that registers and attempts to resolve stress.  This is on balance a very intellectually challenging reflection on the great conundrum of consciousness that is good poetry and deep philosophical reflection.  Fine work...

Answer 2

I very much like your "sponge" metaphor for the ability of the adult of our species to continue the learning process. This is excellent poetic expression.

Answer 3

The guy lives in a pineapple.  Of course I admire him.  Not as much as your poem though.

Answer 4

i absolutely love this poem...i couldnt stop laughing through it at all!!!!!!!!!!!...u personified a sponge very well, and i almost fell in love with it....who could ever believe a poem could make someone fall in love with a sponge....but then, i pondered for awhile the significance of this poem, and i now see a sponge as something different, something more worthwhile....i luv my "sponge"!

i luv it!

Answer 5

As a cartoonist, I'm proud to say that I never watched Bob, The Simpsons, Rinn and Stimpy, Bevis and Butthead or South Park (I did see the first movie, and almost died laughing).

When the art and the comedy became cheap, I turned the channel.

Answer 6

Since you asked for suggestions.  I have 'edited' your poem, which I like, especially the metaphor.

I have always known,

yet it is just now…

that I am realizing

that I am not a well

educated man.

I wonder, the brain,

is it like a sponge?

Maybe absorbent

when young,

constantly staying damp,

never truly saturated

unless  thought submerged?

Liquid of all that is all,

is it full?

That is never the case.

My mind, my sponge,

my two sided, cleaning utensil.

One side rough,

for stubborn stains

The other . . .

abused and wrung out.

a creature of the sea.

Everyday soaking

up something new,

to be wrung out again.

The outer surface,

drying fast,

The inner…

damp, warm.

Beginning…

a whole new culture

of thought!

Answer 7

I'm no critic, but this a very entertaining version of the ever-expanding mind.

Answer 8

I Find this quite absorbing!

Pardon the pun.

Answer 9

"F is for friends who do things together

*U is for U and MeeEEE

*N is for 'nywhere, 'ny time at all

Here in the deep blue sea"

(Yes, I know the whole song...I know the campfire song too...it's shameful...hehehe)

Great poem.  Excellent job with the metaphor and flow.  "one side rough for stubborn stains"...my favorite line, although, it was all wonderful.  :)

Answer 10

I have often heard the phrase that the brain is like a sponge - but I have never truly had it explained so brilliantly and clearly before. Well done. I agree with Neonman on L6  - the comma after "wonder" - would be better clarification ♥