I wonder
if you've ever taken the time
to think that maybe humanity is alone
or if you've always accepted
what the patriarchy told you.
I wonder
if it's ever occurred to you
that you let others control what you do
and that maybe reality
is right in front of your face.
I wonder
if you've ever experienced the beauty
of simply staring while being by the ocean or the sunset
or if you've always been too intent on
making up stories and attributing meaning
to natural events and formations.

I wonder
if you've ever taken the time
to think that maybe there is a higher power
or if you've always accepted
what you thought science told you.
I wonder
if it's ever occurred to you
that no believer believes always
and that many of us have actually grappled
with atheist objections.
I wonder
if you've ever experienced the beauty
of simply being while staring at the ocean or the sunset
or if you've always been too intent on
allowing your neurons to assemble images of objects
as they appear to the naked eye.

I wonder
if you've ever just stared up at the stars and released your preconceptions and
wondered.