standing on the shoulders

we stand
on the shoulders
of giants before us

surely that’s not new to you
we stand to look over the horizon
the taller the more we can see

& just as surely you know
the giants are always just we
standing on the shoulders of us

& as often as a better view
we stand on each other
to hold us all down

sometimes, i think
the best parts of giants
survives their deaths

noble ideas
explaining better
than that before

fears
& human foibles
left moldering in graves

only elegant simplicity
striking bold beauty left
for the fearful living

afraid of you holding me up or down
afraid of height & distance making me small
afraid of knowing i am a mote in god’s mind

we stand
on the shoulders
of giants before us

we may feel
we crouch at their feet
while we use their gifts

when we
are really
the shoulders of tomorrow

copyright 2006 by Kia Gabrielle McLean