Why Must It Be Beautiful?

 

MP3 File

What is it for, all this
beauty? The curve
of the spiral

from the laddered
twist of DNA
to the vast wave

of galaxies; the green
luna moth, breath-
taking & ordinary. 

Does the prey see
beauty in its predator?
Do gazelles admire

the leopard? Does
the seal lift
its sleek head

to gaze in wonder
at the bumbling,
lethal polar bear?

Our science tells us 
how. Our science
gives us reason.

But why must it be
beautiful? The aero-
nautic miracle

of the bumble bee;
the passing brilliance
of the butterfly. Surely

predators would be
more deterred by
ugliness. The hideous

and the platypus
have their own glory.
Humans have our

own glory. Do other
creatures adore
the useless,

the only gorgeous,
the green wave
of Northern Lights

dimming the stars?
The indented shadow
of the heron's bath

in a snowdrift? Why
must it be beautiful?
When we pass, with

the bee, with
the butterfly,
with the polar bear,

the leopard,
the gazelle,
who will grieve

this deep and terrible
loss? Who will delight
in what comes next?

I am reposting this, since it seems ideal for this week's prompt: to say why you think you're alive, why you were born, and why you're still around: What are your reasons? ...try responding to this prompt without using the word "I" (me, my, mine).

Though I did post a poem yesterday, this one seems much more responsive, even though it was written months ago -- and I doubt I could answer the question better than this does.

And I need a reminder this morning.

Comments

[UL]

that's why it's called the circle of life, isnt it? one that never ends, one full of intrigue...if we assume that there's only one - everything is part of a 'single entity' then there's no reson to grieve or rejoice, is there?

[Tumblewords]

This is truly marvelous...I'll return for another re-read, and another.

[...deb]

I'd gladly read this over and over again. This answers the questions I oculdn't answer myself.

[Laura]

Really lovely. Thanks.

[TIv]

Ugly/Beautiful two perceptions of the same thing.

[Rachel]

I like this poem tremendously, both aloud and on the page. So many good line breaks!

You inspire me; I might try to record the next poem I post...