A Learned Man Came to Me Once

A Learned Man Came to Me Once - meaning Summary

Trust and Blind Guidance

The poem describes a traveler who accepts guidance from a supposedly learned companion and follows him eagerly into unfamiliar territory. As they proceed, the traveler loses sight and footing, clinging to the guide for security. The guide ultimately admits defeat, revealing that expertise did not prevent their mutual disorientation. The poem explores misplaced trust in authority, vulnerability in dependency, and the collapse of assurance when both leader and follower are equally unmoored.