I thought I knew
a lot,
explanations
analyses
profound conjectures
nothing new under the sun
stupid is as stupid does
tomorrow tomorrow tomorrow
marathon swims
in the think tank
and abstractions
wrapped like leaden scarves
and flags round my neck
and shoulders,
I thought knowing
would keep me safe
and soundproofed
in a vault of my own making,
and in many respects
it did
and does,
so I cannot sit here
up in arms
and villify
the archtectural savvy
of a relentless mind
bent on survival
while working for an escape artist,
but what I can do is stack a series of concepts
against a single image,
profound in its simplicity:
a small child
reaching out for her mother’s hand
and holding on tightly
as they cross the street
and when they get to to the other side
the child looks up into her mother’s eyes
and pours, lidlessly,
deepwelling wordless love
and cherishment.
I thought I knew
so much
but I often overlooked
or missed
Love,
in no need
of theories
concepts
or codes,
its simplicity
the holiest of
known forces.