Curiosity

February 27

I am thankful for curiosity. Curiosity is that thirst for knowledge, that desire to know things, which keeps us trying to learn new things (or maybe it's just plain nosiness). Without curiosity, I don't think most of the world's important scientific discoveries would have been made. There can be scientific or factual curiosity, or just simple curiosity, as shown by the dog looking out of the window above. He just wants to see what is going on.

The photograph was taken outside my office window as my daughter's dog Oakley peered outside.

Sadly, the following poem is truthfully, at least partially, autobiographical and confessional. As a kid, I drove my parents crazy with questions (they always knew I would be a scientist, even when I didn't). As an adult, I do the same to my family and relatives. They tend to lose their patience with my seemingly endless interrogations. What can I say - I am just a very inquisitive person!

who what when why where?

so what is it about me

why am i so inquisitive?

when did i ever achieve this status

of being so investigative?

it’s crazy

i am not so positive

except to say

that every day

i can recall

with not a hint of disguise

began with a question

and ended thusly likewise

who what when why where

my favorite words it seems

with which to begin

my subsequent sentence streams

and from dawn until dark

i then punctuate it at the end

with a big question mark

simply to know a certain fact

is not enough

to assuage my lessoned intellect

no, to dig deeper and deeper

is required for the full impact

and with each inquiry

the angry ones turn away

“will you please shut up!”

is everything they can say

their faces grow red

while the impatient ones

they have long since fled

those that stay

they still say

“why must you be so insistent

irritating and obnoxious

you know when you do that

it is nothing short of noxious.”

“what is noxious?” i ask

ever mindful of my obsessive task

and they say

“there you go again

see what we meant?

it’s a poison

that can cause great harm

like your endless questions

and general lack of charm.”

but i tell myself

never mind

and pay no heed

for how will I ever

temper this burning need

that’s most beleaguering

in my quest

to know everything

who what when why where

the words i share

for without the answers

i know i know not

how to go there

with each answer

to a question of mine

you would think i’d be satisfied

you would think i’d be gratified

but no

with you i will share

each response

brings only another

who what when why where.

© rt tulley