‘we’ were so certain when i was small

that formula was superior to breast milk

without recognizing individual needs

of specific infants

that asphalt would make better roads

more traffic, more commerce

without realizing the runoff would pollute streams

or the dark surface would contribute to global warming

that ‘greed is good’ was local only

without imagining that the quest for

more and yet more did little good

even for the greedy one accumulating

ah, if we could approach our being

with a bit of humility, of awareness

of so much greater than ourselves

because we may be late in finally

accepting our arrogance is killing us