Jack Scott writes

Local Knowledge Only

The unknown surrounds 
in a limitless sea of time: 
past, present, future 
inner, outer 
and some kind of up and down.

Lacking charts, 
whether lost or not, 
when we think faith is steering, 
we are drifting,  drifting. 
A sense of direction, 
even in error, 
feels better than none. 
Lacking purpose, trust will serve, 
though short of compass, 
but enough to get from here to there, 
a choice to make the best of it, 
even though it might be wrong. 
Trust is hard to teach oneself, 
too slippery to learn from others. 
We’ve been bought too cheaply.

Some waters are charted 
“Local Knowledge Only,” 
known through trial and error, 
handed down as lore. 
Pay attention; this is gospel.

For the broader waters 
you need to simply know 
that the earth’s not flat 
and take the rest on faith 
if charts are lacking.

Eternal Sea of Time and Space -- Sabina Woźnica