Poetry. I’m not about to suggest what is a poem or what is not a poem. I’ve never looked into it much at all, although I know there are many beautiful styles and techniques from all over the world. But the following poem jumped out while I was sitting by the ocean one morning. There was a wind of about 12 knots blowing and the sea gulls were doing their airy dance. One sea gull sat up in the air, wings wide, as still as could be. Just hung seemingly motionless facing into that 12 knot wind. Nothing remarkable according to the functional explanations of ornithology and physical anatomy. Nor to the laws of physics. We’ve got it figured out, don’t we? But what was really going on? And at that instant I thought of two friends of mine. One time I watched them gazing into each other’s eyes. I’ll never forget it. As of this writing he’s 82 years young and she’s 78, both still gazing. Here’s to them, and all of us.
We already know the laws of physics
are so limited
sure they’re useful for building buildings and rocketships
but most of our lives
are outside them
look at love
when my love is 1000 miles away
my thoughts arrive at the same instant
certainly faster than your version
of speed-racer you call light
(even in a vacuum, for you purists)
gravity? ha! my love and I
break down the inverse square rule
like so much neptonium
we are pulled together no matter the distance
expand the known universe
by an as yet unimaginable order of magnitude
our love alone is bigger than that
oh you have your place
I really enjoy your books and theories
but love
love is all 7/2/99