Where do you feel the greediest?
I’ve felt this way on the golf course
hungering for the perfect shot
an expression of style
under pressure
But recently,
it happened
in an old university library
Looking at the shelves
Steinbeck
Bukowski
Newton
Knowledge at my fingertips
Philosophy
not the cheap stuff you find on the internet
but ideas that take a lifetime of searching
Nietzsche
Leary
Camus
Rows reaching 500
My head starts to spin
I’ll major in chemistry, physics, philosophy, I think
the secrets of the universe must be mine
The librarian sees me
I’m holding 9 books
“Can I help you?”
“I’m just browsing.”
She looks at me like I’m insane.
And I walk back to a private room
passing several students on the way there
Nobody is reading
They’re plugged into Facebook
Snapchat
and Twitter
“I’ve wasted my life,” I whisper.
And I start to eat the words…
A ravenous reader
filling my head
with ideas
that have long been forgotten.
Oh, yes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I admire the manner in which you gently prod the reader into recognizing that greed of the mind (greed of the soul, intellect, Lucifer’s sin of pride) is a deeper and more invidious sin than is the greed of the body (for food, wealth, sex, power et al).
“Knowledge forbidden?
Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord
Envy them that? Can it be a sin to know?
Can it be death?”
― John Milton, Paradise Lost
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Johnemarks! I enjoyed reading your comment. It’s interesting that much of human consciousness remains the same for hundreds, if not thousands of years.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know how this feels 😦
LikeLiked by 2 people