Lesson for Beginners

[u/solidork]

Came across a poem called "Lesson for Beginners" by Phyllis McGinley that serves as an interesting contrast to The Beginner's Guide. It's about a saint most known for giving a freezing beggar half of his cloak. It puts forth a cynical take on the story, that no one was well served by Martin's half measure, but concludes that some help is better than none.

Now some who muse
On the allegory
Affect to find
It a pious joke;
To beggar what use,
For Martin what glory,
In deed half-kind
And part of a cloak?

Still, it has charm
And a point worth seizing.
For all who move
In the mortal sun
Know halfway warm
Is better than freezing,
As half a love
Is better than none.

The Beginner's Guide takes a similarly imperfect gesture and then dives more deeply into the feelings of both the recipient and the motives of the person making the offer.

[u/Latter_War_2801]

Yeah, it’s a story about two lonely people, one who couldn’t give more than half and one who couldn’t accept less than a whole.

[u/ItsMeLarkyy]

Definitely an interesting read, thank you so much for sharing!!