Wisdom Poem by Gabrielle Ciarann Roniyah Baer

Wisdom
is a small, ashamed aching
reluctant
at best,
to seek its cure.
It is Wisdom,
in fact,
for which there is no antidote.

Some tell you
Wisdom is a grey beard old man,
or a lovely, austere woman,

No,
she is an envious, taunting child,
demanding your attention,
and blurting your secrets,
when you least wish anyone to hear.

She speaks bitterest truth and
there's no escape from truth.
You
may feel shame to run
from the child, Wisdom.

She does not lie convincingly, like a man,
or deceive without words, like a lover.
She
has only passionate,
obsessive honesty
and piercing,
painful reality
puncturing dreams you dare not even speak.

Wisdom may
be killing you by degrees
but her innocence remains intact.

Dare you
cry out your pain?
Never mind
Wisdom
has closed the ears of love.
In wisdom, my friend, stay mute.
In love, my fool, stay wise.

written in April, '78