11.10.2015

never to be sure Of what is true or right or real

Strange to know nothing, never to be sure
Of what is true or right or real,
But forced to qualify or so I feel,
Or Well, it does seem so:
Someone must know.

Strange to be ignorant of the way things work:
Their skill at finding what they need,
Their sense of shape, and punctual spread of seed,
And willingness to change;
Yes, it is strange,

Even to wear such knowledge – for our flesh
Surrounds us with its own decisions –
And yet spend all our lives on imprecisions,
That when we start to die
Have no idea why.

[Philip Larkin, 'Ignorance', from Collected Poems]

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