A Puzzlement

There are times I almost think

I am not sure of what I absolutely know

Very often find confusion

In conclusion I concluded long ago

In my head are many facts

That, as a student, I have studied to procure

In my head are many facts

Of which I wish I was more certain I was sure

Is a puzzlement

What to tell a growing son?

What for instance shall I say to him of women?

Shall I educate him on the ancient lies?

Shall I tell the boy as far as he is able

To respect his wife and love his concubines?

Shall I tell him everyone is like the other?

And the better of two is really neither

If I tell him this, I think he won’t believe it

And I nearly think I don’t believe it either

Shall I join with other nations in alliance?

If allies are weak, am I not best alone?

If allies are strong with power to protect me

Might they not protect me out of all I own?

Is a danger to be trusting one another

One will seldom want to do what other wishes

But unless some day somebody trust somebody

There'll be nothing left on earth excepting fishes

There are times I almost think

Nobody sure of what he absolutely know

Everybody find confusion

In conclusion he concluded long ago

And it puzzle me to learn

That though a man may be in doubt of what he know

Very quickly will he fight

He'll fight to prove that what he does not know is so

Oh, oh

Sometimes I think that people going mad

Ah, ah

Sometimes I think that people not so bad

But no matter what I think

I must go on living life

As leader of my kingdom I must go forth

Be father to my children

And husband to each wife

Etcetera, etcetera, and so forth

If my Lord in Heaven, Buddha, show the way

Every day I try to live another day

If my Lord in Heaven, Buddha, show the way

Every day I do my best for one more day

But

Is a puzzlement