Ignorance is bliss:
an axiom as rife
as it is inaccurate.
For often, in our ignorance,
we forget how good
we have it.
Like today when,
with my limited awareness,
my card declined
at the checkout line,
and I felt utterly
impoverished.
I’d forgotten the
perpetual famine,
thirst, and illness
of fellow humans in
disparate places.
Knowledge is power:
an axiom as ubiquitous
as it is erroneous.
Like today, when
I acknowledged the pain
of such entrenched injustice
and could do nothing except
select “donate 50 cents”
as I charged
my fresh groceries
to credit.
pm poetry 