1. 1.  because they would have to admit they had been wrong

   2.  their universe would no longer be a nihilistic proposition

   3.  intellectual pride is a powerful obstacle

   4.  their esthetic values would be suddenly and radically altered

   5.  a smug sense of superiority is hard to relinquish after so many years

PROMPT #18:

write your own poem that provides five answers to the same question –
without ever specifically identifying the question that is being answered.