what do i know?

what do i know?

not as much as i used to

about daniel in the lions den

or the names of all the dinosaurs

that the world might end

in mushroom clouds or revolution

that rock 'n roll and LSD

in the white house punchbowl

would make a better world

or at least a bit more.......interesting

that lenin in his argument

with ernst mach about perception

and material reality was

incontrovertibly correct

until i understood

-just a smidgin, mind you

about heisenberg's

uncertainty principle

and then i found out that

even then i was mistaken

it's the observer effect i was thinking of

how could i be so foolish?

is there only one universe?

or many, that should be obvious

but no, apparently there is

such a thing as antimatter

or so the quantum physicists say,

but i think the calculations

of how many angels would fit

on the head of a pin is easier to figure

and what about free will,

you think we have it? or is that

a vain conceit and we are

animals, like any other

furred or feathered, clever

-but running on hormones

and electrochemical processes

masquerading as decisions

all this freedom, or so we think

free markets, i'm as free as exxon, right?

free love? ok, that works out real well

i can tell you, like all the other

ism's, ite's and gods, one or many

but surely there is something

some certainty i can rely on

like the sun comes up in the morning

but it doesn't, does it - we're just

spinning on our axis, trying to

keep from flying off into the void

at least i won't be tortured

by anything more than conscience

a privilege of birth and race and class

i think. things could change

it wouldn't be the first time

on the other hand, perhaps

there's still a chance to plant

a garden, and stick around

long enough to see it grow

but what do i know?

not as much as i used to.