to understand a thing

to understand a thing
you must tend toward it
cup it in both hands
and smudge ink across the idea of it

your neophyte observations will be
textured rough and gritty
with gaps in comprehension throughout
and vigorous attempts to assign meaning

you may not be the first to come upon it
but it will be new to you
a tousled bundle of uncertainties
perhaps a creature with a will of its own

no matter, you must not roughshod it
nor bend it to your necessities
for it is not your possession
it belongs only to itself

so when you cast for it
instead, fill your net with the idea of it
no need to be greedy
you have already been enriched

to understand a thing
you must know how to know
how to reverence the wonder of “first time”
and then release it again to be discovered