It's what I wanted to be,
or said I did, as a half joke
to a friend awhile back.
At the time, I'd meant it as a
full joke--
on the surface, while knowing
we both knew, at least
philosophically,
jokes are built on truth.
I've grown considerably since
then,
in understanding, and, I
should like to think,
in savvy, as well.
Smugness, as I’ve always
known,
is that sense of comfort and
pride
we get at times when in part
through effort or mere fortune
we prevail where others fail.
What I've learned over time
is to own the sensation
but keep it secret
from all but those who get a
wink.
It's akin to the joy good
Christians hide
when they learn the elected
sociopath’s lungs
are hosting the lethal bug
he’d denied.
I'll bet even Christ felt
schadenfreude
seeing the moneychangers’
rage
when his disruption at the
temple
took the edge off
a
profitable day.
m.d.
paust
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