Paradise Lost Poem by Mary Champion

(or to understand is to wish you'd never bothered)

I studied all the time to understand
the reasons why our lives get out of hand,
the reasons why we do the things we do,
and why we act as if we never knew.

I struggled through a pile of learned works,
with special reference to the kinks and quirks
that make a monster out of mice-like men
and petty-pecker of the gentle hen.

I tunnelled deep inside the human soul
and wondered at the lack of self control.
I studied Man and then I studied me
in hopes the knowledge gained would set me free,
free to live my life in my behalf.
But did it? Did it Heck! Don't make me laugh.
Cos I forgot one saying. What a div!
that's right; ‘To Understand is to Forgive! '
But there's no trace of virtue that you'll find
it's natural to an understanding mind.
Although I rant and rave and long to hate
there's something stops me swallowing the bait.
I tasted good and evil on demand.
oh God, it hurts like hell to understand!

I need the smoked glass back before my eyes.
I need the shelter of a pack of lies.
I need the gentle cover of the night.
Whatever moron said.. ‘Let there be Light.'?