The Lake of Knowledge

The Lake of Knowledge

I traveled far,

So far I couldn’t see any houses,

Through the valleys, and through the desert,

I finally reached my destination;

I was seeking true knowledge,

And wouldn’t settle for some,

I wanted it all;

I did not listen to anyone,

“It might not be as you expect it,”

Were their words,

I didn’t listen;

When I approached the lake,

It was serene,

Its beauty unmatched;

Hesitant at first,

I only watched it,

Then I entered,

Feeling its warm water,

My feet pillowed by the mud;

It was very comfortable at first,

But as I descended it got colder,

“This is where I wanted to be,”

I reminded myself;

Soon my feet could

Not touch the bottom,

The coldness of the water

Made it hard to breathe;

The lake’s water clung to my skin

And refreshed this weary traveler,

But soon the cling became a choke,

And no longer provided comfort;

The lake I sought was

Now the lake I dreaded,

Would I have changed my mind

If I had known where I was headed?