Understanding Why

By         

Bill Cottringer

Sitting here trying very hard,

To figure out a mystery,

Even harder to figure out—

A sensible explanation,

Of something not always

Quite so sensible,

As human behavior?

It is important to get right,

And you know why,

Because it relates to use,

Of something important

As using free will,

to find elusive success.

But we really know so little:

Like what exactly is success?

Or do we even have free will?

How can we anticipate outcomes,

From virtually infinite interactions,

Of thoughts, feelings, and beliefs,

Assumptions, experiences and choices,

Just to mention an important few.

Then of course there is another problem,

The problem with using words,

To explain or understand this mystery,

When there is too much space

In between the chosen words,

And what they are supposed to mean.

Well now,

Is a confession in order?

Perhaps we are a bit ignorant,

Professing to know the why.

Such honesty might change,

Some ruling paradigms,

Needing to be set aside,

So we can get on with it—

Helping all of us be successful,

By sharing what we do know

For sure, which is nothing much,

But together is much more.