What Does a Baby Know?
what does a baby know
when all is new
light splaying
people talking too
saying trust me
I will tell you
how to see
and what to do
you have my time
to put it all in place
then safely slide into
this hectic human race
we do not count the labels
nor the names
you'll have enough
to stay this side of sane
we shall ensure
you learn before the bell
how you must
discriminate so well
we hope you won't rebel
Sean
What Does a Baby Know?
What Does a Baby Know?
If you don't become the ocean you will be seasick every day....Jikan (aka Leonard Cohen)
It's comin' from the feel that this ain't exactly real, or it's real, but it ain't exactly there! . Jikan
It's comin' from the feel that this ain't exactly real, or it's real, but it ain't exactly there! . Jikan
Re: What Does a Baby Know?
Hi Sean,
There's a Harry Chapin song that speaks about teaching away the creative
capacity of a child. Reminds me of this poem of yours. The Chapin song
is the one that includes the words, "so many colors in the rainbow..."
The kid in that song is trained to conform to a more constrained view that
isn't as full as the rainbow. Your line, "you learn before the bell" reminds
me of a pre-school version of what happened, unfortunately, to the kid
in the Chapin song. The last line of your poem, "we hope you won't
rebel" -- from a systems perspective, is interesting. -- A sociologist,
in the early part of the last century, observed that the primary
purpose of a beurocracy is to maintain itself (the status quo).
A family is like that, too, often. What is sought to be maintained,
though, isn't always in the best interest of the child. Thanks for posting.
There's a Harry Chapin song that speaks about teaching away the creative
capacity of a child. Reminds me of this poem of yours. The Chapin song
is the one that includes the words, "so many colors in the rainbow..."
The kid in that song is trained to conform to a more constrained view that
isn't as full as the rainbow. Your line, "you learn before the bell" reminds
me of a pre-school version of what happened, unfortunately, to the kid
in the Chapin song. The last line of your poem, "we hope you won't
rebel" -- from a systems perspective, is interesting. -- A sociologist,
in the early part of the last century, observed that the primary
purpose of a beurocracy is to maintain itself (the status quo).
A family is like that, too, often. What is sought to be maintained,
though, isn't always in the best interest of the child. Thanks for posting.
Re: What Does a Baby Know?
Flowers are Red - Harry Chapin is the song to which you're referring Steven
Re: What Does a Baby Know?
Hi Red Poppy,
Thanks for posting the title.
Thanks for posting the title.
Re: What Does a Baby Know?
Sean,
Also, this version of "What Does a Baby Know?" reads cleaner, more precisely,
to me, than that which you posted before.
Also, this version of "What Does a Baby Know?" reads cleaner, more precisely,
to me, than that which you posted before.
Re: What Does a Baby Know?
Thanks for the kind comments, Steven
In university I had the good fortune to read Ivan Illich 'The De-Schooling of Society' and this fellow influenced me greatly. He was a Jesuit who had doctorates in Psychology, Philosopy, Education and religion.
The secondary theme, of interest to me, as it dovetails nicely with Buddhist view, is the actual construction of our reality being a taught extensive labeling process, imprinted on our mind. It is hard to point to anything other than labels.
I thought it needed a little chiseling, as you pointed out.
Cheers
AGT
Sean
The theme, I think is two-fold, firstly that to which you refer, the primary interest of most institutions is self-preservation, and all other interests are secondary. This includes, jails, hospitals, kindergartens, universities, all institutions. I suppose the army is an extreme example.the primary
purpose of a bureaucracy is to maintain itself (the status quo).
In university I had the good fortune to read Ivan Illich 'The De-Schooling of Society' and this fellow influenced me greatly. He was a Jesuit who had doctorates in Psychology, Philosopy, Education and religion.
The secondary theme, of interest to me, as it dovetails nicely with Buddhist view, is the actual construction of our reality being a taught extensive labeling process, imprinted on our mind. It is hard to point to anything other than labels.
I thought it needed a little chiseling, as you pointed out.
Cheers
AGT
Sean
If you don't become the ocean you will be seasick every day....Jikan (aka Leonard Cohen)
It's comin' from the feel that this ain't exactly real, or it's real, but it ain't exactly there! . Jikan
It's comin' from the feel that this ain't exactly real, or it's real, but it ain't exactly there! . Jikan
Re: What Does a Baby Know?
Hi Sean,
Thanks for your reply and elucidation and, also, for correcting my misspelling of
"bureaucracy" (it didn't feel right the way I had it, but I don't have a dictionary
handy). You recalled something you read in university. Similarly, the
observation of that sociologist is something I first learned about in college.
I never did read Ivan Illich, though.
The Dalai Lama has spoken/written about the ability of mind to change itself.
Someone just sent me a link that is supposed to be about what H.H. and someone
else have to say about neuroplasticity and meditation. If you'd like the link, just
ask.
Thanks for your reply and elucidation and, also, for correcting my misspelling of
"bureaucracy" (it didn't feel right the way I had it, but I don't have a dictionary
handy). You recalled something you read in university. Similarly, the
observation of that sociologist is something I first learned about in college.
I never did read Ivan Illich, though.
The Dalai Lama has spoken/written about the ability of mind to change itself.
Someone just sent me a link that is supposed to be about what H.H. and someone
else have to say about neuroplasticity and meditation. If you'd like the link, just
ask.