It begins
in utero.
We mumble

incantations
and trust in our lucky 
pennies. It’s hardly 

irrational if it works. 
It’s okay to find solace 

in quirky rituals 
which propel our team 
straight to the championship.

Your true 
friends won’t 
ever scoff when 

you tie the left shoe 
first, then the right
before you leave 

home. We are hard wired 
for supernatural causation 

and believe in our ability 
to subvert mischance, 
to constantly modify 

those timeworn 
practices that kept 

us one step 
ahead of the next 
carnivore. How else 
do you think we survived 

after being tossed 
out of Paradise.