I'm not even sure how to respond to this. Just... you're right? Absolutely right. It's a sad irony that pain prompts such a desire for connection and communication while also defying the words most people need to build the bridges.
I’m happy to say I’ve not experienced ‘consumption’ or tuberculosis or any chronically painful physical condition/problem. Your metaphor of The Murdering Woodsman does indeed help me have empathy for your past experience of the pain of consumption/tuberculosis and for all the others who have and have had that pain. 🙏 OMG 😱
I find your story and learning from your story very profound. I can imagine you teaching doctors nurses and people dealing with painful physical conditions to encourage ‘pain metaphor’ learning skills 🙏👍 Thank you for sharing your wisdom
I took an intro to poetry class in college where the professor pretty convincingly made the argument that literally ALL language is metaphor. So the idea that we don't have language to convey what pain is like is really no different than the way that our language fails us in areas like love and grief. The metaphors we use resonate the first time you hear them, but people use the same metaphors over and over and stop hearing it for what it is.
Re sexual assault, for all the men in your life who can't relate, I recommend you make them watch Midnight Cowboy. It is by far the most upsetting and realistic portrayal I've ever seen of a man working through his sexual trauma. It deeply upset me when I saw it (at 17) and it was very clear that it upset the boys I saw it with just as much.
I'm not even sure how to respond to this. Just... you're right? Absolutely right. It's a sad irony that pain prompts such a desire for connection and communication while also defying the words most people need to build the bridges.
I’m happy to say I’ve not experienced ‘consumption’ or tuberculosis or any chronically painful physical condition/problem. Your metaphor of The Murdering Woodsman does indeed help me have empathy for your past experience of the pain of consumption/tuberculosis and for all the others who have and have had that pain. 🙏 OMG 😱
I find your story and learning from your story very profound. I can imagine you teaching doctors nurses and people dealing with painful physical conditions to encourage ‘pain metaphor’ learning skills 🙏👍 Thank you for sharing your wisdom
I took an intro to poetry class in college where the professor pretty convincingly made the argument that literally ALL language is metaphor. So the idea that we don't have language to convey what pain is like is really no different than the way that our language fails us in areas like love and grief. The metaphors we use resonate the first time you hear them, but people use the same metaphors over and over and stop hearing it for what it is.
Re sexual assault, for all the men in your life who can't relate, I recommend you make them watch Midnight Cowboy. It is by far the most upsetting and realistic portrayal I've ever seen of a man working through his sexual trauma. It deeply upset me when I saw it (at 17) and it was very clear that it upset the boys I saw it with just as much.
Amazing piece. Thank you