What If You're Wrong?

Rob Grad Layered Collage

This is a new poem I’m working on:

What if you’re wrong?
I know
You’re not
I’m just sayin’
You could be

I mean
We could be
Wrong

You and me
Even on things
We agree

Crack a book
Or turn on the news
A hundred different people
Say a hundred different things
And everybody’s sure
They’re right

Beliefs are contagious
And that should enrage us
Because the truth is
What’s true today
Might feel right
But it’s not for the ages

They were sure
The sun was a God
Before Galileo discovered the solar system

They were sure the best way to keep food cold
Was a block of ice
Until Oliver Evans invented the refrigerator

And I was sure
My ex-girlfriend left
Because she didn’t love me

Looking back
It’s easy to see
Where bridges collapse
And turns went awry
You can’t unturn on a light
Every change that comes
Comes from being
Tired enough
To be inspired
To set aside
What once was a given
And reach higher

We climb the backs
Of our ancestors
For a better view
And I hope we always do
Because no matter
How clever we are
Or how much
We think we know
Our future selves
Will undoubtedly
See us now

As rather dim witted