If You Have To Be Sure

In a poem about the Pulitzer Prize winning writer John Berryman, the poet W.S. Merlin writes:

“I asked how can you ever be sure
that what you write is really
any good at all and he said you can’t

you can’t you can never be sure
you die without knowing
whether anything you wrote was any good
if you have to be sure don’t write.”

W.S. Merwin’s poem, capturing John Berryman’s acceptance of uncertainty in writing, opens a broader inquiry. Berryman’s blunt declaration, “you die without knowing whether anything you wrote was any good,” forces us to confront the ambiguity that shadows our most meaningful actions.

This uncertainty extends far beyond the realm of artistic creation. The questions that arise in our personal lives – ‘Was I a good enough parent? A good enough spouse? A good enough friend?’ – reveal the emotional weight of this unknowable quality. The fear that our efforts might fall short, the ache of not knowing if we truly met the needs of those we love, underscores the human need for validation.

However, the question of “good enough” takes on a different dimension when applied to faith. I find solace in the belief that God values sincere effort and intention above perfection. This perspective offers a counterpoint to Berryman’s assertion, suggesting that in spiritual matters, acceptance and striving are sufficient.

Berryman’s advice – ‘if you have to be sure, don’t write’ – ultimately speaks to the necessity of embracing ambiguity. It encourages us to find meaning in the journey, to value the act of creation or connection itself, rather than solely fixating on the unattainable goal of absolute certainty. This perspective, while perhaps daunting, offers an understanding of the human condition.

About the author

Webb Hubbell is the former Associate Attorney General of The United States. His novels, When Men Betray, Ginger Snaps, A Game of Inches, The Eighteenth Green, and The East End are published by Beaufort Books and are available online or at your local bookstore. When Men Betray won one of the IndieFab awards for best novel in 2014. Ginger Snaps and The Eighteenth Green won the IPPY Awards Gold Medal for best suspense/thriller. His latest, “Light of Day” will be on the bookstands soon.

Leave a Reply +

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *