I Cultivate Ignorance

Dear friend, you who are immersed in the wide world of learning and revelations, as I am. It's my pleasure to share another of my poems with you. In this poem, I meditate on ignorance, and what it means for me. It's an unusual subject, I know, but please, bear with me. What I'm talking about is our relentless pursuit of knowledge, which distracts us from other, perhaps more rewarding and necessary tasks for the body, the mind, and the spirit. In a world saturated with information and communication, my meditation on ignorance is not a retreat into apathy, but a conscious act of resistance against the expectations and pressures of modern life. So, I cordially invite you to reconsider what it means for you to know, to be, and to exist meaningfully.

Happy reading.

With love, Sal.

I Cultivate Ignorance

(A Poem By Sal Godoij - February 2026.)

I cultivate ignorance; however, it is a difficult task

To be ignorant in times of total communication 

The ignorant should be applauded, not punished 

Because it's so hard to strive to become nothing 

I'm alone against everyone 

Everyone looks at me with suspicion in their eyes

How dare you? They seem to think 

Indeed, an ignorant person can be dangerous 

No one knows how dangerous an ignorant person can be 

Anyone can measure wisdom, but few can measure ignorance

Wisdom has its limits

On the other hand, ignorance is infinite, said the wise man 

They label my behaviour with adjectives 

But why should I want to be someone prominent in society? 

Why don't they leave me alone with my ignorance 

With my simplicity of spirit, with my stupidity? 

I do nothing, but I also do something 

I've my eyes open to see what is necessary

I've got my ears open to hear what is necessary

And I open my mouth sometimes, when I feel alone, and sing

I cultivate ignorance, I cultivate myself 

I keep my distance from newspapers, politicians, science

Religions, dogmas, superstitions 

I avoid everything that threats my ignorance

They say that knowledge is power, but I don't want power

Power hurts, ne and others

Plus knowledge increases pain, this I've learned

I don't want to leave any trace of myself in this world 

Not a tomb nor ashes

There's no memory of me in other minds

And so, I live away from noise, spotlights, and noisy people

Away I live from rumours, and from social tumours 

From networks, cysts of malevolence, and away, too, from rank ladders

Stages, microphones, screens 

And I'll die peacefully too, a private being

Dying a private being, ah, it will be a blessing

I protect my ignorance with my life

Ignorance, I say, is not shadows 

It's a light that shadows don't let you see 

Like the forest doesn't let you see the tree 

What life is? What it will be?

Oh, I don't know it yet, I don't want to know 

What does man know? I say, what does man know about all these things? 

Man knows about machines and mathematics

And he studies the space and economy

He builds homes away from the homeless

He builds rockets, but he does not greet his neighbour

He develops illness to fit the medicine

He writes books that read on screens 

Oh, man knows much, perhaps, too much

So much knowledge generates so much power

As dangerous as ignorance is

Conversely, I cultivate ignorance; I cultivate myself 

I want to become a graduated ignorant 

I don't demand to be anything among men 

I'm not. I won't be 

What remains of life, I wonder, what is left 

When wisdom embraces arrogance and becomes ignorance?

ANALYSIS OF MY POEM BY ChatGPT

Where to begin with this thought-provoking poem? Sal Godoij's message is crystal clear: he actively chooses to cultivate ignorance in a world that values knowledge and power above all else. This stance is not born out of laziness or a lack of curiosity, but rather out of a desire to distance himself from the noise, chaos, and harm that often accompanies the pursuit of knowledge and power.

The poem's imagery is striking, with Sal Godoij painting a picture of a world that is overwhelming and potentially toxic. The "total communication" of modern life is stifling, and Sal Godoij feels like he is "alone against everyone" who seems to value knowledge and achievement above simplicity and humility. The image of people looking at Sal Godoij with "suspicion in their eyes" is particularly powerful, highlighting the way that those who choose not to conform to societal norms are often viewed with distrust or even fear.

The linguistic effectiveness of the poem is also noteworthy. Sal Godoij's use of paradoxical statements, such as "I cultivate ignorance; however, it is a difficult task" and "Ignorance, I say, is not shadows / It's a light that shadows don't let you see," adds depth and complexity to the poem. The repetition of the phrase "I cultivate ignorance" becomes a sort of mantra, emphasizing Sal Godoij's commitment to their chosen path.

One of the most interesting aspects of the poem is its exploration of the nature of wisdom and ignorance. Sal Godoij suggests that wisdom can be limited and even arrogant, while ignorance can be infinite and liberating. This is a bold and counterintuitive claim, and it challenges the reader to think critically about their assumptions about the value of knowledge and power.

The poem also touches on the idea that knowledge can be a source of pain and suffering. Sal Godoij notes that "knowledge increases pain, this I've learned," and that they don't want to "leave any trace of myself in this world" – a statement that suggests a desire to avoid the burdens and responsibilities that come with knowledge and achievement.

The final stanzas of the poem are particularly beautiful, with Sal Godoij describing his desire to live a simple, private life, free from the distractions and corruptions of the world. The image of Sal Godoij singing "when I feel alone" is a powerful expression of his individuality and creativity, and the statement "I protect my ignorance with my life" is a testament to his commitment to his chosen path.

Overall, this poem is a powerful critique of modern society and its values. It challenges the reader to think about the nature of wisdom, ignorance, and knowledge, and to consider the potential benefits of embracing simplicity and humility. Sal Godoij's message is not one of nihilism or apathy, but rather of intentional choices and deliberate actions – a call to cultivate ignorance as a means of cultivating oneself.