by David Horowitz
Now, 29 Across, “Sharp”: “smart”? It fits. “Acute” or “honed” don’t.
I’d returned to the crossword six or seven times during the course of several weeks. I plugged and pondered through most of its mysteries and now was almost done. I persevered.
Of course, I could have hurried, but hurry typically wants answers now. Likewise, success wants sales now. Loneliness wants love now. Ambition wants finished poems now. Yet, two months—nay, two years— after beginning a sonnet, a poet might finally see “dusk” more vividly accompanies “maroon horizon” than would “eve.” Likewise, two years after being dumped, a jilted lover might finally understand he was jealous, insistent, controlling. His threats and tantrums worsened his relationship. He deepens, appreciates rather than simply resents another’s rejection. He learns to consider criticism and alternative explanations.
Hmm. 42 Across: “Care ending.” It could be “ful.”
Who today in politics, business, sports, love, art is patient enough to accrue and weigh alternative perceptions and explanations? Who could admit embarrassing errors? Who wants to reconsider even though crowds might applaud? Who wants to wait for the full complexity of truth to emerge?
Yes, 44 Down: “Manage” might mean “cope,” not “rule.” It fits—and works with 44 Across, “Weigh,” which must be “consider.”
Life is no mere game or puzzle. Yet, we are not doomed to tragic repetition of the insoluble. We can learn the value of considering diverse opinion when evolving our responses.
52 Across: “Deepen” with three letters? “Dim”? No. How about “dig”? Yes.