3.18.2011

"The Sciences Sing A Lullaby" by Albert Goldbarth

Physics says: go to sleep. Of course
you’re tired. Every atom in you
has been dancing the shimmy in silver shoes
nonstop from mitosis to now.
Quit tapping your feet. They’ll dance
inside themselves without you. Go to sleep.

Geology says: it will be all right. Slow inch
by inch America is giving itself
to the ocean. Go to sleep. Let darkness
lap at your sides. Give darkness an inch.
You aren’t alone. All of the continents used to be
one body. You aren’t alone. Go to sleep.

Astronomy says: the sun will rise tomorrow,
Zoology says: on rainbow-fish and lithe gazelle,
Psychology says: but first it has to be night, so
Biology says: the body-clocks are stopped all over town
and
History says: here are the blankets, layer on layer, down and down.

3 comments:

Kari said...

I love this! wow. Thanks.

franberoceanfree.net said...

what a lovely poem, i will be printing this one and passing it on...some poems haunt you and tend to be one of lifes great companions.one is never lonely with some of ones favourite quotes and poems written in a notebook.
thank you for this and your blog,you have a very generous heart and it is changing peoples lives as well as your own.
fran

Shorty said...

Glad you both liked it! I found it in this poetry anthology I've been reading:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/929288.The_Body_Electric