A Paradox

Indeed.  The older I become, the less I seem to know.

This did make me smile!  I am not a studied literary person either (unless you count pointless French A level about 100 years ago) or a pretentious flaplord at that.  You have such a way with words!

You had me at the word 'caliber' there.  That's it - however it was intended, I now have a massively swollen head.  My minuscule 'Broken' poem was another middle-of-the-night revelation, and that one seemed to go down well too.  It's a creative and illuminating time, but it doesn't combine well with being (a) a teacher or (b) a mother of teenagers.  Will attempt to go to bed earlier tonight!

I'm always pleased when my work gives others something to think about, or leads them on a journey as you describe.  It's fascinating what can be read into them sometimes, and I do aim to make my poetry both personal and universal.  Thank you for taking it in the spirit in which it was intended.  I showed it to someone in real life today, and they fell about laughing, saying that the tangle of cleverness and foolishness was the funniest thing ever.  Hrumph!

Matroska Doll--
Does quantum mechanics apply to self-knowledge?
That's the question...
Food for thought!
Enjoyed!

When my work gives you, Mark, pause for thought and enjoyment, I'm immensely pleased.  I value your opinion and feedback greatly!  I get what you mean about the dolls.  Or layers of an onion, for that matter.  Layers of meaning.  Also, quantum mechanics - interesting comparison. There are quite a few paradoxes there, and things which aren't what they might seem to be.  I suppose that's the case with people who think they know everything.

Whoops! In that case, long may you walk tall! 😉

Ho ho. Probably wise. I'm short though.

Nice crisp erudition ... well penned ...

I find that 2.30 am is a creative time, but it doesn't combine overly well with being a teacher, or a mum to teenagers.

Bravo.

So many of my own poems came out of early hours thoughts I can relate to this. It is a time there is least disturbance.

The  paradox as you have expressed it reminds me of the BIblical words of Paul about 'God has used the foolish things of this world to shame the wise'. What struck me as an example of the point in real life was the true story behind the one told in the film The King's Speech - George VI was helped to overcome his speech impediment not by the bevy of conventionally trained and educated medics his royal family retained but by a man (Lionel Logue) who was not medically qualified but was committed to healing through his dedicated application of speech therapy. (Not to mention that - if what George told Logue in the film is to be believed - the same conventional doctors advised George to smoke to help his throat and calm his nerves, unwittingly leading him to nearly risk a leg amputation later in life and die of lung cancer).

Excellent!