Alive with Jostling Particles¹

Matter tells space how to Curve—
And space tells matter how to Move.²
Two molecules clanging against each other 
Require an Observer to become scientific Data.³
Galaxies & Particles in themselves propose nothing.⁴

If it feels we’re Connected 
By a larger Whole, you’re mistaken: 
We’re connected by a smaller Particle.⁵
We build a world dust particle by dust particle—
Stacking one on top of one another 
With impossibly small Tweezers.⁶
Consciousness Nestles among 
The Atoms themselves.⁷

A Perfect Description of 
The smallest particle of Dust 
Would take an Everlasting time:⁸
Each molecule preaches Perfect Law—⁹
Behold the Atom I prefer 
To all the lists of clay!¹⁰


¹ Yukio Mishima tr. Nathan, The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea
² Douglas Adams, Life, The Universe and Everything
³ Allen Ginsberg, Cosmopolitan Greetings
⁴ John Berger, And Our Faces, My Heart, Brief as Photos
⁵ David Eagleman, Conservation
⁶ Tamas Dobozy, Operative O
⁷ Philip Pullman, The Amber Spyglass
⁸ Alan Watts, The Way of Zen
⁹ Shutaku tr. Stryk & Ikemoto, Mind Set Free in the Dharma-Realm
¹⁰ Emily Dickinson, Of All the Souls