Delicate and So Delightful
Oh You're A Beautiful Pony
Setting: A quiet, sun-dappled courtyard. Sophia, radiant and calm, sits at a stone bench. Leonard, thoughtful and dressed in dark clothing, slowly approaches.
Sophia: Welcome, Leonard. You arrive with a shadow of unease. Tell me, what is it that troubles your sight?
Leonard: Hello, Sophia. It’s the looking, isn’t it? I’ve seen so many who treat their own form—this marvelous, fragile thing—not as a partner, but as a fickle, perhaps even rebellious, soldier in the pursuit of affection. They scrutinize it, waiting for it to fail them in the great campaigns of the heart.
A woman watches her body uneasily, as though it were an unreliable ally in the battle for love.
— Leonard Cohen (1934-2016)
Sophia: Ah, yes. They see a tool, not a home. They’re so focused on the battle for love they forget the peace that must first exist within. It’s a sad irony, believing a beautiful pony must be constantly measured and judged to earn a rider, instead of simply being admired for its own spirit. Why do you think this self-mistrust is so pervasive?
Leonard: Because the world whispers of a fleeting currency. It praises the sparkle that is always about to fade, telling them that their truest self is insufficient. They fear the body will betray the soul's deepest longing. And so, they watch it, always anticipating the moment it will falter and reveal them as unlovable.
Sophia: Then the task for all of us is to remind them that the real ally is not the flawless facade, but the unreliable ally they fear. The body is the vessel of experience, Leonard—the laughter lines, the scars, the gentle wear. These are not signs of weakness in the battle, but maps of survival and depth. The love they seek must first be a recognition of that whole, imperfect journey, not a prize won by a perfect shell. True wisdom is knowing that your worth is not a negotiation based on outward presentation.
Leonard: A peaceable conclusion. Perhaps if they could stop watching so anxiously and simply inhabit their marvelous form, the love they seek would find them sitting comfortably in the saddle.
Sophia: Exactly. Now, go and write a song about the comfort of a gentle journey, Leonard. The world needs fewer battle hymns and more lullabies of self-acceptance.
The planksip Writers' Cooperative is proud to sponsor an exciting article rewriting competition where you can win over $750,000 in prize money.
Figures of Speech Collection Personified
Our editorial instructions for your contest submission are simple: incorporate the quotes and imagery from the above article into your submission.
What emerges is entirely up to you!
Winners receive $500 per winning entry multiplied by the article's featured quotes. Our largest prize is $8,000 for rewriting the following article;
Heraclitus
At planksip, we believe in changing the way people engage; at least, that's the Idea (ἰδέα). By becoming a member of our thought-provoking community, you'll have the chance to win incredible prizes and access our extensive network of media outlets that will amplify your voice as a thought leader. Your membership truly matters!