I had this terrible habit
of putting my course books
under my pillows
the night before finals
– I thought it might help me
retain short-term knowledge
needed to pass the exams.
Of course, it never did!
Some things were always amiss.
and neither cussing nor cursing
helped me remember.
Dread to fail made me sick,
and then, last minute,
my foggy brain kicked in.
Nowadays, I love to study:
meditation, contemplation,
even prayer.
I study to sit still
which goes against
my restless nature,
but somehow
I convince myself to be here – now.
It is so much more stimulating
to study something
that is not related to
everyday life
and then,
to suddenly realize
that it has become
ingrained in every cell of self.
Hiking Poet 