Certainty

Scientists are certain we can’t feel our brains,
Because brains have no nerve endings,
And nerves are what we use to feel.

If that’s true,
Then why,
When I do something brave
Or exciting
Or new
Or terrifying,
Do I suddenly feel the space
Between my ears and behind my eyes?

I am certain
I had to learn to feel that space.
And sometimes I wonder if that means
I unlearned the feeling
Or if,
Maybe,
I was taught to ignore it.

Maybe it doesn’t matter
Because
I am certain
The space is there
Even when I am not noticing it.

There are things I am certain of
About the world,
About my experience,
About my brain,
That science, logic, and reason
Cannot explain.

I don’t think scientists mean any harm
When they say they want to know something for certain
Before they believe it is true.

But I do think,
Maybe,
They’ve invented their own type of certainty,
One that thrives on ignoring
The brave
The new
The exciting
The terrifying,

And I am certain I like mine better.