Beloved Doubter

One must respect the narrative technique

When an obstinate skeptic is woven

Into a tale audacious, nigh unique

Who doubts that bread emerged from yonder oven

Of course, we ought to remain suspicious:

Plato gave Socrates some easy marks

Pangloss’ optimism is ludicrous

Hylas to Philonous quite quickly harks

But there is subtle genius in stories

In which the wise man loves the staunch skeptic

And subjects his most cherished, strange glories

To a probing finger, most dyspeptic

Wisdom knows the limits of its knowledge

And will its debt to doubters acknowledge