I have grown accustomed to
astonishment of others

silently, smugly I take their
surprise as less personal affront
more opportunity to exploit
their naiveté-tinged ignorance

(when not feeling charitable)

making any successes sweeter
though I oftentimes regret
my haughty self-restraint in
not saying ‘I told you so’

actions chat louder than words
though aren’t always heard
while seeing is believing
even when nobody is watching

– Mark Lucker