Sophistication Isn’t Always Sophisticated

Here’s the thing:

Sophistication isn’t always sophisticated.
It tends to be relative.

What’s sophisticated to one person
Isn’t to another
And you will never really know
Because we don’t tend to care 
About such distinctions.

We think they don’t matter
But they do.

So,
Having a conversation with someone 
Or any kind of relationship 
Is trying to figure out
How sophisticated they are,
Both in the needs of the moment
And what that relationship is.

You can be a jerk
And assume
Even when it isn’t true
That naturally you’re the one
Who’s more sophisticated 
(Although the assumption alone
Kind of proves otherwise)
Or you can choose to be better.

When you know
With absolutely certainty 
That you are more sophisticated 
Then the onus becomes
Responsibility.

You have to accept
That they are less sophisticated.

You can still think
In your head
How stupid they are,
But tact suggests 
You don’t say so
Aloud.

Or you can try
And try
And try
To help them grow,
Even if the results
Never show,
Because sometimes 
That’s just how it’s going to be.

Or you can simply accept
That this is how things work.
And move on.

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