I Do Not Know As Much As I Thought I Did Poem by Shalom Freedman

I DO NOT KNOW AS MUCH AS I THOUGHT I DID

I do not know as much as I thought I did
Others know more
I am not expert on anything
Except myself
And in that field my mistakes have been numerous

Knowing is important
Knowing a lot gives something
But translating that knowledge
To meaningful work
Is something else

I am an old man now
I have read a lot all my life
I know many things

Others in every field know more
And are wiser

My knowledge is with me
But it has not given anyone else
Very much.