magno conatu

there is a phrase in Latin

quoted by Sir Francis Bacon

magno conatu nugas

“with great effort, trifles”

which sums up why i am often angry

with poets and story tellers and persons

when i’ve taken time and effort to read

their words, expressions, actions

for their underlying meaning

only to uncover something i knew

as a child

it is difficult then to ask myself

who i think i am and am i sure

i do not overlook the obvious