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October 28, 2007
Mapping an allness
I realize now that most pictures of lightning really do resemble forks. Tiny bolts spring out from one large one. However, my initial drawing of it resembling supply and demand curves still holds true for me. In fact, it has enhanced my understanding of the poem and has given it more depth. Every supply and demand curve is drawn on an axis of price (vertical) and quantity (horizontal). To me, the quantity is labeled as the lightning bolt. Its supply increases when more ignorance (price) increases. Ignorance is also related to the temperature of a lightning bolt. An increase in heat can cause the level of intensity of the bolt to rise. Heat can also be associated with an increase in feeling, or anger. In the poem, ignorance and carelessness from the "inadvertent fingers" is the cause of the forks (lightning) dropping from the tables (clouds).
Directly below the supply curve is a demand curve in which price and quantity are labeled as the same. In this case, lightning becomes less desirable when the price (ignorance) increases. Also, with ignorance, heat and the temperature of the bolt rises, and when it does, it becomes less worth it to drop a fork and therefore consume the lightning. Although the outlook on lightning is negative in the poem, this perspective can still be challenged by the positive things lightning may provide. For instance, in certain moments, people's worlds are lit up, and it gives them the ability to "see" things that they may have not seen before. So, when less heat or anger, and ignorance is required, the demand for lightning will increase and we'll drop a fork.
Posted by pbali at October 28, 2007 09:06 PM