Fundamentalism by Naomi Shihab Nye

Because the eye has a short shadow or

it is hard to see over heads in the crowd?

If everyone else seems smarter

but you need your own secret?

If mystery was never your friend?

If one way could satisfy

the infinite heart of the heavens?

If you liked the king on his golden throne

more than the villagers carrying baskets of lemons?

If you wanted to be sure

his guards would admit you to the party?

            The boy with the broken pencil

            scrapes his little knife against the lead

            turning and turning it as a point

            emerges from the wood again

            If he would believe his life is like that

            he would not follow his father into war.