A Poem

 The Scream of Symmetry

 A spinning sphere, its halves the same, glides through silent space

in perfect orbit teaming with other planets screaming

that their symmetry of shape and path has a source in something more than chance.

 

In fact, this symmetry extends to every place

from the very microscopic to the reach of the expanse,

quietly declaring with a breadth quite overbearing

that each whole is halves—each half alike

in nearly everything that matters.

 

Is it for matter’s sake

that such symmetry flatters

such quirky things as the fishy shapes of clams and stars,

stingrays, whales and pike

as well as coral, shrimp, anemones, manatees and gars?

 

The forms of viruses and germs,

and the parts, the whole, the half, and the path of every snake,

the contour look of spiders, moths and gnats,

beetles, flies and worms,

and a billion other bugs that hide in dirt or share the skies

with other symmetric creatures

having halvish sameness aspect features

like finches, terns and hanging bats

or birds of prey,

whether soaring, diving or even perching quiet—all say

quite a lot aloud without a word about the symmetry they share

with our selves and cells and fingers, teeth and lungs,

our veins and ribs and ears and heels and tongues

and even tears sneaking

from and past each configured part of our very balanced faces, speaking—

with drops of mist in clouds and fountains

or as frozen flakes each alone

or combined in colored spectral bows that display

in each arching tone

with each atom making either dust or mighty mountains

as well as with the roots and stems and leaves and fruits of plants

and in everything with legs or wings or DNA,

its twisted ladder shape with every wave or bolt or spark

of light or sound—

a simple truth that’s quite profound:

 

This common feature isn’t happenstance

or the result of some explosion;

nor is it an evolving growth or some fortune quirk of time and motion;

 

it is rather—its uniqueness stark—

a glorious and clever, clearly loving maker’s perfect mark.

Mark Absher

Copyright 2007