The Anxiety of Influence

New thoughts are new to no one but the late.
To those who mimic though, they seem to flow,
While seldom are they simple to create.

The brain may murmur, fester, and berate,
But rarely are ideas apropos.
New thoughts are new to no one but the late.

And fraudsters sidestep and equivocate,
Recast precursors’ thoughts into their own,
While seldom do they simply go create.

Yet some whose efforts never will abate
Will always strive to innovate although
New thoughts are new to no one but the late.

Fresh notions have their own peculiar trait.
Once found not difficult are they to grow,
While seldom are they simple to create.

That even this is old must be but fate.
Still I imagine, even as I know
New thoughts are new to no one but the late,
While seldom are they simple to create.