Delusions of Competence

Delusions of competence
are not as easily seen

in JAVA Programmers, who
sold bags door to door
just the summer before -

their façade deceptively smooth,
‘cause they walk a new walk
and honk the lingo -

still, all frontage crumbles
with task number 5.

Cleverer still are the
sheep counters and
medicine men;

floating on
magic carpet mirages -
tangible, ‘til one reaches through
stardust and peeks under the fringe.

Yet the most dashing of all is
the delusion of self –

assuming we know
fool’s gold from rainbows;
basking in shades of gray-glory,
while weighing empty pots.

Written October 15, 2003