What I Thought I Knew

I was once told that a giant frog ate the moon

(I later learned that it was the lack of reflection due to the moon’s position)

I was once told that Paul Bunyan dragged his axe across the country and dug a giant canyon

(I later learned that it was about 17 million years of rushing water filing away rock)

I was once told that my rabbit had been sent to live with my neighbor on his farm

(I later learned that he had been buried behind our shed after he was found dead)

I was once told that my mother had moved to America to escape her country’s war

(I later learned that no matter how far you go, there is no escaping war)

I was once told that magic was real, and I believed it

(I later learned that magicians are nothing more than clever artists who hide the truth)

Magic became a thing to scorn, a party trick

(Even though I secretly wanted to be proven wrong)

My mother triple checked all the doors and windows and slept with a knife under her pillow

(Even though she immigrated with the purpose of living somewhere safe)

Death became something constant and unifying, everyone would experience it

(Even though I find myself trying to talk to my grandpa)

17 million years and the water is still digging that canyon deeper

(Even though I swear that I saw a giant boot print on the other side of where I stood)

The waxing and waning of the moon was nothing more than its place in the sky

(Even though I thought I saw the curve of a mouth devour more of the moon each night)

I had believed that everything could be quantified

       (Years later, I found that there is more to the world than numbers and facts)

I had believed that there was a reasonable answer to everything

        (Years later, I found that humans are unexplainable)

I had believed that my experiences were normal, if not universal

         (Years later, I found that I was part of a privileged few)

I had believed that all that mattered was learning the science

         (Years later, I found that science is just a small part of being human)

I had believed that the smartest people in the world were doctors and mathematicians

          (Years later, I found that the most persuasive, passionate people were better with words)