THE UNKNOWN

At the edge of knowledge, the unknown begins;

Buried within knowledge, the unknown lies;

Masked by knowledge, the unknown is disguised.

In a small boat to peer over the side

At a pond’s depth when the surface is calm

And see nothing beyond a few inches at most.

In despair to raise head and eyes towards

The sky is no more than a shallow glance

Of sun on what appears to be evident  

Is no more than a blinding, superficial glare.

The learned lead to mountains of the unknown;

Chisel away at the feet of the behemoths;

Climb as high as footholds allow. 

The learned lead to the abyss of the unknown;

Stand at the brink and watch the bottomless pit grow larger;

Throw their tokens into the bowels of the earth;

Take soundings; and postulate.

For all that is known is never as large as the unknown

Rapidly outgrows knowledge;

Discards it like an exoskeleton or a cocoon;

Emerges in different forms; multiplies and expands

Beyond anything a human mind can begin to understand.

© cmheuer, 2016