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She told us to focus listening on the recitation of the tape recorded poem and write a literary piece inspired by Afternoon on a Hill by Edna St. Vincent Millay. Atone oclock in the afternoon, it was really a difficult time for thinking. With our richminds as were still young, my classmates were able to write essays and shortstories. I wrote a poem instead.

Afternoon on a Hillby Edna St. Vincent Millay

I will be the gladdest thingUnder the sun!

I will touch a hundred flowersAnd not pick one.

I will look at cliffs and cloudsWith quiet eyes,

Watch the wind bow down the grass,And the grass rise.And when lights begin to show

Up from the town,I will mark which must be mine,

And then start down!

The question is, in the poem Afternoon on a Hill, was Millayphilosophizing? I think so. All poetry is philosophizing. When our teacher askedus the meaning of cliffs and clouds, to me it meant trials and frustrations. It

meant different things to my classmates, and it means different things to thejournalists, scientists, to the fishermen and the painters.

Insight

Insight is that one that we see into something more than what meets oureyes. The philosophers call this insight.

The men who have insights had ever since used their intelligence andpowers of reflection. The history of philosophy shows that men have seen andnoticedthings around them, thoughtand ponderedon these, and actedontheir reflections.

According to Father Roque J. Ferriols, S.J., in his article Insight, he saidthat there are two things to be considered regarding an insight:

1. The insight itself2. What I do with insight

This means that when you have an insight, it should not stay with you asinsight. You must do something about it.

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Permit me to refer to a personal experience. Fifteen years ago, myhusband was hospitalized because of severe headache and high fever. Mychildren and I were so terrified because he became unconscious and we thoughtit was his end. He was attended immediately in the hospital and strong dosage ofmedicines were administered. A day passed , but there were no signs of

improvement in his state. Our children and I really did pray sincerely to ask Godsintercession for the healing of my husband. That evening when we had our familyprayer beside his bed, I was very surprised when the hand of my husband movedand slightly touched my hand. This was seen by all present as a sign of theHeavenly Fathers answering our prayers.

That during the early evening of May 19, he was able to regain slowly hisconsciousness and use his faculties. He joined in our prayer in silence. Suddenlya cold and fragrant wind : that of roses, passed by. He asked me if I felt the coldwind and smelled the fragrance. I said yes. I believed that a miracle happened,because after this, his health remarkably improved. After a day, he was releasedby the hospital for home.

From that incident, I saw two things:1. The power of prayer2. That God is the greatest doctor of all.

Some people might be skeptical about my experience. Some may have aready explanation about the phenomenon. No matter how it was, but it was aunique experience. I know that in spite of the advancement of technologynowadays, I am sure there are still those who still believe and testify that prayerscan do wonders.

Insight is only for the aware, for those who have eye to see. It is not forthe insensitive, for the dense. It is for those who stop to listen, who can feel thepain and cry.

In this lesson, you realize that it takes a special person to philosophize.Poetry is for the elite, that was what literature teachers say. So is insight. So isphilosophy in its finest hour.

VI. Discussion Questions:

1. After the process of philosophizing ( a search for meaning) has beenexplained to you, can you say that a poet is philosophizing? What doesMillay want to say in her Afternoon on a Hill?

2. What is insight to you?

VII. References

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Cruz, C. L.(1995). Philosophy of Man 3rd edition. Mandaluyong City:National Bookstore.

Landauer, J and Rowlands, J. (2011). The Importance of philosophy.importanceofphilosophy.com/Epistemology_Philosophy.html

Pasigui, R.S. (2007). Philosophy of Man. Quezon City: C&EPublishingCo..