The World I Should Enjoy

His wisdom did his happiness destroy, Aiming to know that world he should enjoy; And wit was his vain, frivolous pretense Of pleasing others, at his own expense - John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester I’ve often wondered would I have been happier had I been born more simple minded If my brain was unable to conceptualize considerations that go deeper than what is necessary knowledge to survive If I was blind to all the bullsh*t If being tethered to this tiny dead end town bereft of options or opportunity were enough to placate me If I wasn’t aware of a whole wondrous world out there though I’ve experienced so little of it never having seen a sea or left the country despite the Rand McNally map hanging on my bedroom wall as a kid decorated with different colored tacks denoting all the far away places upon whose soil I was sure I’d someday set my feet If I wasn’t confident I could have achieved so much more if fate had seen fit to give me a chance the smallest crack in the door If I didn’t suffer from this fire inside burning me alive driving me to strive for what I will never have