I can see that a poem I recently submited to Dverse was poorly communicated to readers, possibly placing me more firmly in la-la land than usual. This is to clarify:   I got the idea from information in Life’s Engines (2015) by Paul G. Falkowski, a book recommended by members of the science readers group on “Goodreads.”  The lion’s share of the work was done while Falkowski was on sabbatical leave at the Radcliffe  Institute for Advanced Studies  at Harvard University.

On page 39 we find: “What we do know is that is that the basic structure of the tree of life has helped us understand that all extant life on Earth is derived from a single, extinct microbial organism. But if Earth is derived from a common microbial ancestor, when did that last common ancestor arise?” The eventual answer, after much evidence, is about 2.4 billion years ago. In case you missed it, the poem which I wrote, is:

MOTHER MICROBE

My first mom was a microbe–

it is written in my book;

randomness was all it took.

A virgin birth by golly,

no horny teenage folly.

T’was a sideways injection

and without an erection.

That’s the way microbes did it,

linking up to a tidbit

as it says here in my text:

a daisy chain without sex.*

*Life’s Engines by Falkowski, 2015

NOT one after another, but at the same time!  In psychology class we learned that at any one time we aren’t feeling just one emotion, but several.  For fun (and boredom) I decided to check out my emotions and their subject…object?  I’d be interested in hearing yours.

Worried…That Lucky, my blind and deaf red cat may be failing. I thought maybe I could write a poem about him dying but I haven’t yet nor has he….That you might I’m being cruel for not “putting him down,” but he can still purr and eat and sleeps wih me.

Joy…That after losing only about 8 pounds I have more energy and recently videotaped 3 hours of the International Street Fair, Poetry Corner at the library, the Psychic Fair at the Rec Center,  a great talk by an anorexic, and made a guest appearance on Kaleidoscope, with Jane and Shannon, all as a volunteer for Athens Public Access cable 23.

Lonely….If  I don’t keep busy.

Sad….That I have been disowned by someone in my family.

Disappointed…That my books aren’t selling.

Challenged….by blogland.

Shy (is that an emotion?) ….Too shy to peddle my books.

Angry (well, a little miffed) that someone was in my parking space tonight and I had to park elsewhere and run the minor risk of being towed.

Fearful…. that an organic chemist in Florida wants to mess with our DNA, inserting new “letters” into its code. Evolution has done pretty well–many of us are alive. What would a change like that incur?

Sleepy…I KNOW that’s not an emotion…exactly, but that’s what I am right now.  G’night.

 MOTHER MICROBE

My first mom was a microbe–

it is written in my book;

randomness was all it took.

A virgin birth by golly,

no horny teenage folly.

T’was a sideways injection

and without an erection.

That’s the way microbes did it,

linking up to a tidbit

as it says here in my text:

a daisy chain without sex.*

*Life’s Engines by Falkowski, 2016

Along the Ohio River

I enjoy making collages out of “found” items and in my enthusiasm today I trawled  along the banks of the Ohio; literally along, down the banks of the river, carefully stepping over the rocks and debris. Then I was ready to come back up to the car and I’m afraid I made a spectacle of myself. I went down on my knees–a customary way of traversing sometimes, but then near the top of the embankment I found I couldn’t get up. I was very aware of all the people sitting on swngs up above at street level who were enjoying the view of the river…and me. My dauhter Mandy tried to give me an assist, and I had a sturdy stick, but I was stuck, until I was rescued by one of he boatmen who was loading or unloading his boat, I’m not sure which.  He was tall and muscular and raised me from my knees.  But what am I supposed to do next time I want to go collecting???

dribble.com

ALAN WATTS  (1915-1973)

Do you remember Alan Watts, who wrote The Wisdom of Insecurity, The Taboo Against  Knowing Who You Are, The Way of Zen,  and Nature, Man and Woman, plus a number I haven’t read?  I was re-reading The Wisdom of Insecurity (1951) the other night and saw his anagram on page 72:

POCATELDIMC

  Watts gave the above as an example of how to find the answer with a relaxed mind, “and in a very short time the brain will deliver the answer without the slightest effort.”    In a footnote he added:  “If you don’t succeed within one minute, read on!  Otherwise you will be annoyed either with yourself or with me, and the consequent strain will interfere with the process.”  I can’t recall whether the answer came to me when I read the book earlier, but it did not work the other night!  YOU CAN GIVE IT A TRY, but don’t go asking me for the answer.