Sixties Poetry

Questions Ad Infinitum

2009-01-12T08:03:00.000-08:00

They say the universe is expanding.
To what?
They say it was once a contracted solid universe
Of great density,
But still infinite in size.
If it's contracted, how can it be infinite?

They say man evolved from the apes.
But did he?
They say the Bible is a maze of
Distorted fables and stories.
I agree.
But behind every story may be an element of truth.
Ergo?

They say Leonardo was a genius and before his time.
Literally?
They say Julius knew he would die, back in 44.
How?
They say the speed of light is a constant.
Why?

They say we live.
Why?
They say we only use a fifth of the brain.
What's locked in the rest?
They say telepathy is impossible, but haven't
You ever experienced that feeling of
Someone watching you?

They say that the more you know,
The more you realise the Amount Unknown.
So much to know -- so little known.
Slowly I have begun to realise how great is Education.

What do I know?
NOTHING.
What can I learn?
EVERYTHING.
How can I learn it?
BY REASON AND LOGIC AND RESEARCH AND EXPERIENCE.
Will I ever know everything?
NO.
Then why try?
IT IS BORN WITHIN YOU.
Why?
INSUFFICIENT DATA FOR MEANINGFUL RESPONSE.

Douglas Anderson, 1961

The Earth Exists No More

2009-01-11T00:37:00.000-08:00

The Earth exists no more:
"'Twas unavoidable," they said.
"You can't stop a nova," they said.
"Nature must run its course," they said.

Yet well I miss the birds and bees,
bushes and trees,
lice and fleas,
apples and pears,
musical airs,
marble stairs,
Incas and Aztecs,
woven straw baskets,

For
The Earth exists no more.
"We must flee!" they said.
"Build rockets!" they said.
"Evacuate the world!" they said.

But what of
the ants and beetles,
grandma's knitting needles,
Gay Paree's Lido,
kangaroos,
wonderful zoos,
the hangman's noose,
the White House,
that little grey mouse,
MY house?

And
The Earth exists no more.
"We can't build enough!" they said.
"We can't all go!" they said.
"You can't go!" they said.

So the fights began,
then battles and wars:
it raged to all shores,
behind all doors;
murders and "suicides",
"accidents" and fratricides;
lynchings and patricides;
Jews and Christians,
Presbyterians,
all religions,

Died.

The Earth exists no more.
"Why couldn't we leave?" they asked.
"Why couldn't we leave?" they asked.
"Why couldn't anyone leave?" they asked.

And now, the Earth exists no more...

Douglas Anderson
1961