Poet’s View

Thanks so much for Matthew Miller’s wonderful commentary, “A Poet’s Lesson for Politicians” (Jan. 1). I love Wislawa Szymborska’s poetry and have felt mysteriously drawn to her. Miller’s column helped me understand why.

The older I get, the more I appreciate people with perpetual question marks over their heads--and the less time I want to spend with those who have all the answers. Admitting “I don’t know” is unfortunately all too rare in the academic world as well as in politics. Academics are socialized and rewarded to know everything there is to know about something, and then defend their little hills to the death. Sort of a strange way to pursue “truth.”

WELLFORD W. WILMS

Professor

Graduate School of Education

and Information Studies, UCLA