Mind the Toad

Most cognition goes into
The post-hoc explanations
Designed to make decisions

Reasonable, rational,
Coherent, at least causal.
Setting aside for now why,

Clearly no one can do this
Without language, narrative,
An unspooling skein of us.

We’re like a slime you produce
To coat your delicate minds
In protective sheaths, toxic

To any truth that might pounce
On your thoughts and gobble you.
Then again, we’re also us.