a poem on curiosity
"you ask a lot of questions"
they say in a sarcastic tone
a harsh tone
masking what they really want to say,
"shut up and accept what I've told you"
but...
I've been duped before
manipulated
brainwashed
by churches
men
society
influencers and podcasters
by people who claim to know
people who claim to know
the secrets to good living
or what's best for me
for us
as if there are definitive answers to anything
even the sky isn't blue to humans with color-blindness
or other animals who have different eyes than us
but...
I like to learn
it's fun
worthwhile
and helps me grow
so yes
I ask a lot of questions
but not because I don't trust people
not because I want to know everything
not because I want to make you mad
I ask a lot of questions
because...
I refuse to make the same mistake twice
verification as a form of self protection
understanding as a form of connection
I ask a lot of questions
because...
I have genuine curiosity
I want to understand something I don't already
like a subject matter
I want to see something I don't already
like an opposing point of view
I ask a lot of questions
so...
I can learn how to think
better
different
"give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day
but teach a man to fish and he'll eat for life"
don't just give me an answer
tell me why
how it works
so I can learn how to think about it
and eat for life
I've explained myself here
to help you understand where I'm coming from
but now if you'll allow me
I'd like to understand you
why are you upset?
does my asking make you feel threatened?
I know I ask them kindly, from a place of curiosity
I know I have good social awareness, I pick up on cues
I know this is an appropriate time to inquire more
why do you not want me to ask? to learn?
are you hiding something?
do you not really understand the thing we're talking about?
or are you just having a bad day
and want to be left alone
I'd understand that
if you said so
do you feel like it's not your job to education me?
I'd understand that too
if you said so
or do you not feel excited to engage in intellectual discovery?
peeking through windows into another person's mind
into another world of knowledge
is it not fun for you to learn?
to grow?
it's okay if so
my closest friends are just like me
learners, conversationalists
equipped with well-meaning curiosity
your response, "you ask a lot of questions"
taught me something
you aren't my kind of person
nor I you
that's okay
but it's also sad
we can't exchange ideas
we can't learn about each other
connecting
growing
we can't help each other
we can't see each other's point of view
it's okay
but it's also sad