If the Whole Bit About Cyclical History Checks Out

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IF THE WHOLE BIT ABOUT CYCLICAL HISTORY CHECKS OUT


Then in some far future

page 78 of the sophomore textbook 

may show scientists dancing around 


a great steel microscope as the teacher

says something like “no really, 

they thought it would save them 


and crafted elaborate myths about how 

it all worked.” Someone in the back

is doodling a picture of a penis 


holding a beaker with

“I’m a moron” on the label, 

thinking how dumb you’d have to be 


to really believe the trees weren’t listening

and lightning bugs were ever 

anything else than a field’s dreams. 


The teacher repeats the mantra

about how we mustn’t be too quick 

to judge them with the gift of retrospect 


as someone else chews a pencil 

and wonders to himself if maybe 

he’s crazy because it kind of seems 


like the old views may actually 

hold water—which would account

for this chronic thirst—but then of course


the test is coming up and who 

would listen anyway because of how much

we’d all have to change if they do.

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