If it’s true as he says―that he knows that
He has not studied it deeply,
And that he has quite a limited view,
And could well be wrong in what he’s about to say―
Then why in the world is the fool venturing
To say on?
Why does he not pause to read
Or study or reflect or ask?
But he forges ahead instead to opine,
Even with his apologies offered in advance,
As if this earns him some latitude.
Is he not telling us that he’s betting he’s right?―
That he’s pretty sure he’s got it figured out
Well enough to go ahead and publish it to the world?
Why, then, offer up all the preface as an oblation?
Why offer up an apology in advance
For whatever’s wrong with that he’s going to say?
Is it not obvious that he values the saying of it
More than he values whether he has yet got it right?
Is this not what kind of person he is?
