Ph.D students

you think you have to study hard
and you don't know how hard it is
to have none of the answers
and only so many beautiful questions

i don't deserve your admiration
yet I love it and I crave it
I want you to study hard
so you can have at least

those answers that I know

but what you most need to learn
I cannot teach
the strength to love your work
up blind alleys to look for truth

it is a beautiful enterprise
I am lucky and it warms my heart
and I have found so many answers
to questions I did not ask

so toil hard and break light
enjoy what passes and soon is gone
for those who try to make it last
give up a life of wonder and unknown

only the heart knows why
there is such joy in pursuing
even without knowing
where the chase may lead