Bag Lady

Bag Lady

Belief is all that separates me from the old bag lady

As together we rake through rubbish bins,

Shuffle,

Stockings crumpled,

To a shelter for the homeless

Peeing in our pants.

I think I am better than her. 

I am educated and live in a house.

I have sat at the foot of a rimpoche

And read lots of books about God.

Belief

Is all that separates us from knowing

Because -

Now listen -

Belief that we Know is death of knowledge.

The bag lady has the advantage here.

She knows she knows nothing

And is thus wise

But I....

 Sometimes I believe I might know something.

And it gets in the way of me.

© carol argyris 2013

Published: Weyfarers 113  Guildford Poets Press