Science
by Robert Kelly
Science explains nothing
but holds all together as
many things as it can count
science is a basket
not a religion he said
a cat as big as a cat
the moon the size of the moon
science is the same as poetry
only it uses the wrong words.
An interesting poem… able to resume and even connect two such big themes as science and poetry! As a scientist and an artist I quite agree with the underlying message… I am just a little bit sad about the choice of the word “wrong” in the last line… I would have said “only it uses different words”…
Hi Miki,
Thanks for checking it out. I found Kelly’s weaving of the two really interesting too. I sent the poem to a good friend who is both a writer and a physicist, and he too objected to the word “wrong.” But I’m fascinated with the similarities I think I see between art and science, between art and the social sciences.
All best,
Mary
I have to say that “wrong” is exactly the right word in this poem. It expresses the difference between quality and quantity (I’m thinking especially of Rene Guenon’s The Reign of Quantity, although that may be more esoteric than necessary).
He’s speaking of wonder, rather than reductionism…
Regards