Poem: Examining Genius

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To paraphrase Einstein explaining his lot,
Knowledge is limited. Imagination is not.
But what he imagined we cannot conceive
The concepts he played with, much less then believe.
But there’s other factors to Einstein’s mystique—
His humor and wit were not close being weak.
This follows what I’ve thought, ever so long,
That humor and wit in our thinking belong,
Allowing the brain to embrace its full scope,
For only then may we then adequately hope.
But wait—it may be I’m deluding myself—
Like putting myself on a ready-made shelf.
Take Newton, for instance—a humorless man,
Who, if he had his way, would humor ban.
So now I’m confused, knowing not what to think—
But that shows, with genius, I haven’t a link!

© Richard Williams

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