At Best

In pursuit
Of truth, knowledge, peace
Even happiness
The one thing that matters
Is the only thing

That can never be delivered
By any amount
Of reading and listening
To others

What does it make
Of the teacher who knows —
That the pursuit ends only

When the student — in earnest —
Begins to think
For himself
And discards the teacher

And despite knowing this
For years, decades
The teacher keeps speaking, answering
Writing —

Doing all the things
That delay the onset
Perpetuate the avoidance

Of the one thing
The student must do
To end the pursuit

Independent thinking —
Discarding the teacher

What it makes of the teacher
The one who profits
From teaching

Is an entrepreneur
At best