Broken Images

I first came across this poem in an unlikely place, for me it summed up - and continues to sum up - the need to discount a "quick-fix" approach to the difficulties we encounter, instead of attempting to accept the immeasurable complexity/chaos of life through a reflective approach which accepts that there is chaos and complexity which requires more than glib "quick fixes".

He is quick, thinking in clear images;
I am slow, thinking in broken images.

He becomes dull, trusting to his clear images;
I become sharp, mistrusting my broken images.

Trusting his images, he assumes their relevance;
Mistrusting my images, I question their relevance.

Assuming their relevance, he assumes the fact;
Questioning their relevance, I question their fact.

When the fact fails him, he questions his senses;
when the fact fails me, I approve my senses.

He continues quick and dull in his clear images;
I continue slow and sharp in my broken images.

He in a new confusion of his understanding;
I in a new understanding of my confusion.

Robert Graves