"Misery Loves Company" and "The Benefits of Ignorance" by Hal Sirowitz

from Father Said © Soft Skull Press

Misery Loves Company

Sometimes I feel miserable, Father said,
but unlike you I don't make a big deal of it.
I just see it as the price you pay for being human—
getting my share of the unhappiness.
Whereas, you go to a doctor
to talk about your problems,
blowing them up until they're out of proportion.
I don't blame your doctor
for having a keen eye for business—
the longer you see him the more money he gets.
I just hope he's not planning on
making you his permanent customer.


The Benefits of Ignorance

If ignorance is bliss, Father said,
shouldn't you be looking blissful?
You should check to see if you have
the right kind of ignorance.
If you're not getting the benefits
that most people get from acting stupid,
then you should go back to what you always were—
being too smart for your own good.