Depressed Long Term Depression (LTD)
You Look Happy With that Nose Piercing, said the Optimist
Sophia: Gentlemen, I am intrigued by the tension between sorrow and hope, between darkness and the faint sparks of levity. Dante, you wrote, “There is no greater sorrow than to be mindful of the happy time in misery.” How do we navigate such reflections?
Dante: Sophia, memory is a double-edged sword. To recall joy while suffering intensifies the weight of sorrow, yet it also illuminates what we have lost, and perhaps, what we might regain. One cannot love the light without knowing the shadow.
Poe: (leaning forward, eyes intense) Indeed. And sometimes we cannot help but dwell in the shadow. Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before. To confront the abyss is both peril and revelation.
There is no greater sorrow
Than to be mindful of the happy time
In misery.
— Dante Alighieri (1265-1321)
Steiner: (somberly) And yet, I must be frank. I’m convinced that there is at the moment no realistic prospect for very much hope in human affairs. We may peer into darkness, but the human condition often resists illumination. Optimism, while charming, frequently masks the hard truths we must face.
Sophia: And yet, even in that realism, there is space for levity. Consider the innocent observation of the optimist: “You look happy with that nose piercing.” A small recognition of joy, a fleeting affirmation, amid all shadows. Could it be that hope need not be grand to be meaningful?
Dante: Perhaps. Even the faintest memory of happiness can serve as a guide through misery, if one allows it to remind rather than torment.
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before.
— Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849)
Poe: Or as a flicker in the dark — brief, almost imperceptible, yet enough to provoke thought, even curiosity. The abyss is daunting, but glimpses of light, no matter how trivial, can shape perception.
Steiner: (reluctantly) I grant that. Even in my skepticism, the smallest human gestures—humor, kindness, defiant joy—can punctuate the weight of despair. It is not salvation, but it is proof of endurance.
Sophia: Then perhaps the lesson is subtle: the darkness may be vast, sorrow may be profound, and reason may warn against hope—but small affirmations, like a smile, a shared laugh, a whimsical nose piercing, remind us that human experience is never entirely without light.
Dante: And in remembering that, we balance sorrow with a measure of grace.
I'm sorry, I'm absolutely convinced that there is at the moment no realistic prospect for very much hope in human affairs.
— George Steiner's (1929-2020)
Poe: Even if only for a moment, the darkness is interrupted by possibility.
Steiner: Perhaps I can concede this: realism need not extinguish the flicker.
Sophia: So let the optimist speak, even softly. Let the nose piercing gleam. Let fleeting joy meet enduring shadow. In this interplay, we find what it means to be human: to endure, to reflect, and, occasionally, to smile.
The four sit in quiet contemplation, the room suspended between shadow and spark, sorrow and levity, hope and realism — a Möbius strip of the human condition.
The planksip Writers' Cooperative is proud to sponsor an exciting article rewriting competition where you can win part of over $750,000 in available 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, which will amplify your voice as a thought leader. Your membership truly matters!