An Atom In The Universe

Debussy: La Mer

GIFS by HEAD LIKE AN ORANGE

I stand at the seashore,
alone, and start to think.
There are the rushing waves
mountains of molecules
each stupidly minding
its own business
trillions apart
yet forming
white surf in unison.
Ages on ages
before any eyes could see
year after year
thunderously pounding
the shore as now.
For whom, for what?
On a dead planet
with no life to entertain.

Never at rest
tortured by energy
wasted prodigiously by the sun
poured into space.
A mite makes the sea roar.

Deep in the sea
all molecules repeat
the patterns of one another
till complex new ones
are formed.
They make others
like themselves
and a new dance starts.

Growing in size
and complexity
living things
masses of atoms
DNA, protein
dancing a pattern
ever more intricate.

Out of the cradle
onto dry land
here it is
standing:
atoms with consciousness;
matter with curiosity.

Stands at the sea,
wonders at wondering:
I a universe of atoms
an atom in the universe.

--Richard Feynman

Dougie MacLean: Feel So Near