“Uncertain Certainty” by Alan Christopher Mathews

In his poem, the author makes extensive use of abstract and metaphorical visual imagery instead of describing the struggles of social isolation and dealing with uncertainty during the coronavirus pandemic in a more direct manner. Nevertheless, this work closely echoes with my experiences of studying from home, limiting my social life, and spending most of the time thinking about life and how it will change. Most importantly, I can relate to the ideas from the third verse paragraph of the poem, such as being “somewhere in between” the two drastically different stages of life – “a child” and “an old man.”

At first, I regarded the need to spend more time at home and limit contact with others as a surprisingly helpful way to get distracted from everyday issues and finally sort out my feelings about life and how to improve it. Long weeks without the joys of having a full-fledged social life have made this introspection too deep and unproductive. Seeing no goal to pursue and feeling no enthusiasm, I prefer to think about the most untroubled times of my life, including my childhood. However, it bothers me that living in the past is often typical for older people who realize that the best times are far away.

Another part of the poem that I relate to is the first verse paragraph. Similar to “a lost child” who is “looking everywhere for her mother,” I continue searching for stability in the form of valid reference points and goals in this life. It is because the current situation with the virus has urged me to understand that some dreams fall apart too easily when uncertainty takes place. Therefore, I am still in the middle of planning and setting priorities, and I hope that I will find new and more realistic goals to pursue.

Reference

Mathews, A. C. (2019). Uncertain Certainty.