There ain’t no answer. There ain’t going to be an answer. There never has been an answer. That’s the answer. ~ Gertrude Stein
This morning, I must have been in the mood for a mind-blender, and I either found or created one.
I pondered the above quatrain for a moment or three before I decided I possibly understood the meaning…that was until I reversed the lines of what seems to have been intended as a quatrain in irony. Then I second-guessed myself. Not a good way to start the day. Too late. I committed the act…
Is a poet similar to a scientist? If so, the mind of the writer was checked at the door…expressions of choice, emotions, will, and logic are the brain incognito. I’m now thinking a toss of a coin might be in order to settle my question of understanding the meaning, if there is one, of “That’s the answer.” To heck with it, I’m going out on a limb with this one.
To most, whatever meaning is found comes from us, as we read meaning into things, not from things. Is that clear as mud? Probably.
Let’s look at it with another twist. Do you possess a meaning meter? I don’t. Therefore, the proper way would be allow each person reading Stein’s quatrain above to conclude their own meaning and purpose, and accept it for what it is to them.
I understand the meaning…that’s my final answer.
How about you? “Game’s on…”
Retired from property tax assessing and Real Estate appraising, I have become a crusader and advocate of the property taxpayer. I enjoy digital photography, flower gardens, 4-legged family members, cooking/eating. Family cohesiveness, with regular communication, is very important to me. I am a people-person and would drop whatever I am doing to help anyone in need.
I am unfamiliar with the author or the time period but after the late 17th century in the English language “There ain’t no answer.” would imply that there is in fact an answer. The following two sentences contradict this but the third sentence implies that the quote was written before there was an understanding of the mathematical logic involved in language. The last sentence confirms that the double negative in the first sentence is intended to resolve as a positive so there is an answer unbeknown to the author which I believe leads us to the other comments here in that the answer is something left to each of our own perceptions.
That is my understanding of it anyway. Hopefully it was not thoroughly confusing
Asylum,
Thanks for visiting the blog site, and for sharing your view on “There ain’t no answer.” I like your methodical dissection of Stein’s quatrain…it was not confusing at all. Actually, it provides another validation to what you and others concluded and/or took from it.
Far too often, I have observed works the wrong way…more like superficial skimming. My loss, since many writers and artists, yourself included (since I’ve seen some of your work), leave an underlying message which if the observer would only slow down and discover it, provide such depth. A story within a story, so to speak.
Again, thank you, and I look forward to seeing more of your work…
Steve
i take it to mean….everything is biographical. we make things fit us or it’s about us. i think we cannot really help it. it’s who we are. we bring our own experiences, abilities, knowledge and such to everything. or not.
Thanks Deborah.
We appear to take the same from it…I love your description, especially, “we make things fit us or it’s about us.”
I feel honored having a talented blogger (you) stopping by to visit my blog site. Your heartfelt blog postings, combined with your writing style, keeps your readers subscribed.
Happy Holidays Deborah!
Until next time,
S
I have to admit, there was a point in
“my perception” that I saw a resembalance to you and the monkey with one of your statements. LOL (for real).
GREAT BLOG!!!!!!
Thank you LuAnn…I think.
“…resemblance to you and the monkey…”
Now you’ll keep me guessing which statement, though I have two in mind. Since I love exposing myself…I’ll go out on the limb (no monkey pun intended…at least not much of one) and guess “I pondered the above quatrain…” or “I’m now thinking…”.
So, I’ll anxiously await your affirmation of my guesses, or at least a hint for me to guess again…
Game’s on…
S
Oh my goodness!!! I wholeheartedly agree with you in regards to someone taking their own meaning out of what was written. I’ve actually gotten into that same train of thought with Jehovah Witnesses that come to my door because what they get out of the Bible is not the same thing that I get out of it at all! Amazing! So it’s a person’s own perception of things. So who’s right and who’s wrong??
Good one Lori!
This was a fun posting…in part, because everyone wins! We each read meaning into things, not from things. I love it when everyone is a winner!
Until next time,
Steve