Monday, November 17, 2008

I am Charles Darwin

I am Charles Darwin—ninety-nine point nine percent
There’s a little variation that I don’t share with the gent
But we share a common blueprint, which is kinda what he meant
When he came to the conclusion that we’re all of shared descent

I am Charles Darwin—what I mean is, I am Man
I’m a billion trillion accidents instead of One Big Plan
Just a step or two from chimpanzee or from orangutan
Maybe more than distant cousins, but you recognize the clan

I am Charles Darwin—I can’t help it; it’s my genes
We’re mutation and selection, see, when no one intervenes
Like a god with claimed omnipotence, or alien machines
None better and none worse than us, is really what it means

I am Charles Darwin—I was never Eden-cursed
I am just another animal, I’m neither best nor worst
From primordial beginnings, look how widely I’ve dispersed
Such a beautiful idea…Charles Darwin saw it first.

cuttlecap tip to PZ




Support independent publishing: buy this book on Lulu.

11 comments:

The Ridger, FCD said...

I really like this one. Really.

MTaur said...

This is among your best work.

Podblack said...

Off-topic and politically incorrect (why did I think of you... ;) ):
http://jokesfunny.wordpress.com/2008/11/17/christmas-carols-for-the-psychiatrically-challenged/

Podblack said...

@*&#@*#& - too long, try this:
http://tinyurl.com/5zuasg

Podblack said...

BTW - nominating this poem for the Open Lab book:

http://tinyurl.com/yousubmittoo

Unknown said...

This is by far one of the best things I've read this year; not just on your blog, but overall.

Cuttlefish said...

Wow. Gee, I guess it will have to go in Volume 2!

Thanks, people! It took maybe half an hour, while I was fixing dinner. I never know which things people are going to like--it rarely corresponds to how much effort it took!

Jens Knudsen (Sili) said...

Comgrats.

And thank you.

Thinker said...

I am Charles Darwin - of course, what else is new?
But I'm Wallace and McClintock, Stephen Gould and Watkins too.
It is weirdly schizophrenic, but nonetheless it's true:
in the sense of everything we share, quite simply, I am You!

Cuttlefish said...

Nice, Thinker!

Thinker said...

Thanks!

However, I realize there is an error in there: I intended to write Watson, not Watkins. Honestly, I don't know where that name came from...