Axioms For Life Poem by Willem VanVoorthuysen

How do we prove that 1 + 1 makes 2?
We don't, we just accept it. But why?
Because our teachers told us so,
and on, and on, and on, and on,
for generations; that's why.

We've learned that axioms are laws
we shouldn't tamper with, because
the consequences might be serious:
a car might crash, a child might die,
a human soul be lost forever...

Axioms exist not only in arithmetic,
but also in religion, so when claiming
our right to freely think and speak,
we should be careful not to step
on other peoples' axioms of faith.

No matter whether we accept all axioms
we learned from loving parents, friends,
or dedicated teachers, or reject some,
there's one we cannot live without:
to love our neighbors as ourselves!