A Poem for a Thursday #234

Albert Goldbarth is an American poet who has published more than 20 collections of poetry, a novel, and essay collections. Goldbarth’s “unique style is a mix of complex ideas, juxtapositions between dissimilar objects and facts, and detailed descriptions woven together with verbal play.” In 2008 he was awarded the Mark Twain Poetry Award from the Poetry Foundation.

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 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.

The Sciences Sing a Lullaby
Albert Goldbarth