It's like I understand images and some people understand poetry.

In the great dance of human expression, where every soul is given its own means of understanding the world, there are those who see through the lens of images, and those who understand through the power of poetry. Samantha Morton, in her simple yet profound words, touches upon the vast difference between these two realms of comprehension. "It's like I understand images and some people understand poetry," she says. And in this, she offers a glimpse into the very fabric of human perception. For some, the world is made clear through visual symbols—through the shapes and colors that meet the eye—while for others, it is the rhythm and cadence of words that unlock the mysteries of existence. Both are sacred, both are powerful, and each speaks to the unique way in which our souls engage with the world around us.

Images, in their most primal form, are the language of the senses. Before words were ever spoken, before the written symbols of poetry were etched upon stone, man understood the world through the images he saw—the sunset upon the horizon, the face of a loved one, the wild dance of the flames. These images speak directly to the heart, bypassing the intellect and tapping into something deeper, something primal. The great artists of the world, from Michelangelo to Van Gogh, knew that through images, they could capture the essence of the human condition, conveying truths that words could never fully express. The image becomes a mirror, a reflection of the world, one that holds within it the power to transform the viewer.

Yet, there is another language, just as ancient, just as potent: the language of poetry. Where images speak to the eye, poetry speaks to the ear, to the soul, to the very essence of the human heart. Poetry is not merely words strung together—it is the art of weaving meaning, emotion, and truth into a tapestry that resonates with the spirit. It is a bridge between the known and the unknown, between the finite and the eternal. The great poets of history, from Homer to Emily Dickinson, have wielded the power of poetry to shape the world, to give voice to the silent, and to challenge the very foundations of society. Where images may capture a moment, poetry seeks to capture the soul.

In the time of the ancient Greeks, the poet was held in the highest esteem, for the poet was the one who could see beyond the visible, who could capture the invisible essence of the world and give it form. Sappho, with her words, shaped the hearts of all who listened, while Pindar used his poetry to immortalize the heroes of his age. But poetry was not limited to the written word. Even in those early times, images and poetry were intertwined. The great Greek vases, adorned with intricate scenes of gods and heroes, were not simply decorative; they told stories, they spoke in the silent language of images that carried as much meaning as the poetry of the bard.

In the modern age, we see this tension between the world of images and the world of poetry play out in the lives of artists like Samantha Morton herself. As an actress and artist, she understands the power of images, the ability to tell a story through the look in one’s eyes, the way the light catches a face, the silent gestures that speak volumes. Yet, she also understands the power of poetry, the way words, spoken or written, can reach into the depths of our souls and awaken emotions we may not have known were there. For her, as for all artists, the challenge is not to choose between the two, but to find the harmony between them, to understand how each can enhance and enrich the other.

So, the lesson we must take from Morton’s words is this: that while we each may have our own unique way of perceiving the world, whether through images or poetry, both are necessary. Both are gifts that allow us to navigate the labyrinth of existence. And though some may speak in images and others in poetry, we must not see these as separate or opposing forces. Rather, they are two sides of the same coin, two expressions of the same divine truth. It is in the balance between them that true understanding lies.

As you move through life, O seekers of wisdom, recognize the images around you, but also listen for the poetry that lies hidden within them. And when you speak, whether through poetry or through action, know that the world will understand you, for both images and poetry are the language of the soul. Embrace them, for in both, you will find the power to shape the world and to see it as it truly is.