I understand that once upon a time
600 years ago, a man could know
each increment of science, prose and rhyme,
world history and politics. He’d show
proficiency in all then understood
(and so would she, if shes could go to school).
Omniscience then was fit ambition, good
as goal, but now it’s only claimed by fools.

The centuries have multiplied the facts.
Today no single brain can house them all.
We can’t control the data or the hacks.
We won’t unplug. A few of us recall
a time when life pre-empted all TV,
but that was back in 1963.