The Ostrich is famous for it.
And the trio of mythical monkeys.
But here’s the thing: it’s people, people.
When ostriches see an enemy close at hand,
They run or fight.
They don’t stick their head in the sand
(Or somewhere worse).
When monkeys face danger,
They don’t cover their eyes and ears.
Their senses find the way to fight for fears.
Stubborn as a mule, they say.
And, true enough, mules can be stubborn
When you try to steer them somewhere they don’t wish to go.
And, then, there are the storied buffalo stampeding
And the legendary lemmings
Who hurtle off a cliff just because they can.
But surely, people, people are surely the champs!
(At least when it comes to being chumps!)
Humans pride themselves,
Indeed, Define themselves
As the smartest critter who ever lived
The wise,
The sapient,
The *Special*.
Humans write it into many religions:
“We are special!”
Indeed, we are special.
Capable of curing diseases.
And intentionally spreading diseases.
That’s special.
Capable of finding other planets in the universe!
And trashing the one we know is habitable.
That’s special.
Capable of building America
And trashing it for a poop bag of lies.
That’s special.
This evening as we walked along the dark and foggy road,
Sadie-dog spotted a boy—about fourteen—
Riding a black bicycle,
Wearing gray clothes,
Fog gray, in fact.
No lights.
(AI-generated image. FYI, I specifically said, “no bike light”)
To me, this is foolishness.
But only if, like me, you know:
In general, people cooperate.
If instead, you imagine most are out to “get you”
Then, you see your invisibility as an aid.
How many sand traps (and worse) do we ostriches have our heads in?
How many cliffs do we have yet to go over?
(AI generated image above)
These are some of the most destructive lies:
(Sound familiar?)
The myth of the self-made man.
The myth that total competition to the death is what is natural.
The related myth that most people are only out for themselves.
The sand is starting to sift.
The tilt begins to shift.
The night grows longer.
The fog grows stronger..
All it takes is to forestall to think.
All it takes is an ill-timed blink.
Be the light.
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petersironwood 