I know that I know nothing
they scolded the old man
and threatened to
kick him out of
the neighborhood
“You're stinking up the place,
old fool!”
But he only rocked in
his chair
and poured another glass
and raised it to them in salute
and drank
and smiled in spite of their
frowns
He lived in the city of 770
universities. The city of intellectuals,
of the highest, most
educated, most
elevated minds the world had to offer
To live here
one must be either a grade A
student or a published and
acknowledged author or
artist
The authorities allowed this old man
on account of being a poet
but the citizens, with all their
education and knowledge
and diplomas
would never understand that decision
Professors of philosophy offered him
as example to the students.
“This over here,” they've said, “is the
stereotype of
the man who stops searching for
truth on account of taking
to heart the famous words, 'I know that
I know nothing.'
What do you think, is the man right in
his way of life?”
And the answer came not from
any of the students
but the one they were gawking at
“No way,” he said
“Excuse me?”
“'I know that I know nothing' ain't my
philosophy.
Me, I know that there's nothing
I need to know. All I gotta do in
this life is feel.”
“What?”
He put a cigarette between his lips
and lit it
with a match,
waved with his hand. “Now get the fuck
outta here, you and
your students. You're blocking my sunlight.”
***
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