I watch the beautiful and boyish
Professor Brian Cox with his rich voice
explore, for us, the Universe – deep space.
The Sydney Symphony Orchestra trace
the swirling images with music: vast,
towering, lifting … as the first and last
edges of creation float before us
onscreen, 'til the crescendoing chorus
leaves us – with the triumphant scientist
and the awed conductor – freed from the mist
of ignorant speculation now, to
thrill and wonder. But questioning how to
alert the short-sighted fools in power:
evolved life’s all here – its final hour?
Form: Clarian sonnet
Notes:
As far as can be discovered and deduced, ours appears to be the only planet in this universe where life has evolved beyond a single cell.
The concert ‘Symphonic Horizons’ had four performances from 30 Nov to 2 Dec 2023. You can Google it for details of the music chosen. I watched a TV recording of a rehearsal, aired in Jan 2024.
Brian Cox was a musician before becoming a scientist.
Sharing many months later with Poets and Storytellers United for FridayWritings #184: Let's Go Formal.
What a wonderful song of tribute to those who share and explain their passions and beauties of the world - Jae
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jae. I'm not sure if you mean my sonnet (the word originally meaning 'little song) or the orchestra illustrating Cox's talk and photos with such soaring music. Either way, an exploration well worth celebrating!
DeleteRosemary, you cut your piece just the right place for us rebels as we now have a "short-sighted fool in power." One small town hospital closed today.
ReplyDeleteWe have a bully ignoramus for a leader. He cut off folks jobs and science to lesson our national debt but his new spending budget will increase it by way more than he and Elon knocked it down. Elon Musk was so very disappointed. That's not the end.
His unpredictability seems to me a great worry, too.
DeleteThat touches a chord - literally, figuratively.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad.
DeleteA sonnet full of music, wonder and awe about life, the universe and everything! Thanks, Rosemary.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed it!
DeleteIt's perfect harmony when musicians collude with astronomers in a sonnet. In final hours, we can thank the short-sighted who willingly handed the fools their power.
ReplyDeleteSadly.
DeleteWe agree. Apologizes the anonymous was me. :)
DeleteI like the rhymes, especially "now, to" and "how to."
ReplyDeletePK
Thank you. I do like to make my rhyming a little unusual.
DeleteBrian Cox would be delighted to learn he featured in a sonnet!!! Love how you ended with that question. But are we destroying the only evolved life in the universe..that is so troubling...
ReplyDeleteIt was Brian Cox who suggested that we are, at the end of that program, saying no evidence has been found to the contrary. A sad thought, yes.
DeleteIt's a good question. Thank you for the thoughts
ReplyDeleteThank you for the comment!
DeleteFascinating! A scientist/musician ... both musician and scientist work in a state of deep concentration, immersion in what they are doing ... I really enjoyed this Rosemary!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Helen, I'm glad you did. Yes, in his youth he planned to be a rock star! But became diverted, evidently loving science better. (He is also a noted mathematician.)
DeleteA sonnet of music, what could be better!
ReplyDelete*Smile*
Delete