The Butterfly Effect

in response to a friend's writing regarding 'Chaos Theory'...

'Why must we create

a monsoon in Japan

rather than a miracle,'

Monsieur Science Man?

 

Can't you believe

that perhaps

withour your computer attacks

we might actually

create something

good and Beautiful

among these buggy

species...

 

Hackers,

I think

you may be upon Creation-

 

Instead of soul

which I hold dear

you bless your binary code

to pass about your days

although that just may

be what is my magic secret

my dating strategy

is that you know Chaos Theory

and can discuss it clearly

with intellect and charm

 

My one true hope

beyond this wish

is a fantasy

that one would hope

to see what I have seen

and appreciate its beauty.

 

A Butterfly within a Masonry Cup

one summer

sprung back to life

and laid eggs

upon the walls

of the Jar inside-

 

that was truly

an amazing thing

and proves to me

that miracles can

happen still

although

she flapped

her wings

God bless Japan

and its masses.

 

I hope they survived

the tsunamis that you have spread

with your ideas

and where my dears

we now have 01010101... more of these species

to control

what, the weather?

 

I think not

but instead some

lonely creatures

that will flit about

each summer in the garden

and heather

procreating

quicker

than your RAM can

ever run-

 

Believe my man

in the magic

that their wings spread

instead of wasting your days

pictographing maps and gigabytes.

 

Instead my friends

enjoy the breeze

of Lord, I sneezed

perhaps your computer is done for-

 

Never doubt the power of us

womenfolk

we know something fun.

 

Procreation rocks

and I doubt

that you have the time

to see it

because in front of your

terminal screens

you sit and split

apart the masses

predicting doom and disaster-

 

While my lad and I each summer day

collect the butterflies

amongst the leaves and grasses.

 

And in the end

we have much fun,

how about you-

has your 'Chaos Theory' lasted?

 

Have you proved

that the butterfly wings

are to blame

or can you

run in the sun

at the end of the day

instead of being holed up in your office?

 

 

 

Reviews

[Jonathan Ballam]

I disagree with the poem's message although I still love the images, and the flow of your monologue in this.

Generally people consider 'Hackers' to be destructive because of the way the media has portrayed them. Although a true hacker, will get into a computer/online system and temporarily alter something, and then fix the problem and leave. In other words...a hacker does this to create an intellectual puzzle for himself, rather than intentionally harm others.

Moral Of The Story: Be nice to the Butterflies ;)

[Robin]

I never collected butterflies ... nice soliloquy

[J. James Reider]

I always wondered, when hearing of the butterfly effect. How can it be proven? It can't. So, it is then, what? An assumption or prophecy? Well, if a mind could create that effect, then it is hardy chaos. Chaos is something that there is no pattern to, and as humans we believe that everything has a pattern. So someone created a way for a monsoon to develope and ravage Japan, probably because they sensed that Global Warming could be a more common problem, and that surely could not be the fault of mankind. How's that for a chaos theory... lol

This is a very deep poem. It makes me think and rethink some beliefs I already had, and that is cool. I'm not somebody who is steadfast in my beliefs anyway, always allowing the possibility that I could be wrong.

I disagree with one review. Poetry doesn't need punctuation. It is always up to the writers discretion to use it to alter the flow. ie; commas and semi colons to produce pauses, periods to change the subject. Your poem is perfect the way it is, and I wouldn't change a thing. I imagine that incorporating science into a poem would be challenging, I don't think I have ever tried. But it is seamless and very interesting, thank you for sharing (:

[Sarah]

This is a gorgeous poem, with a wonderful message behind it. (: There's so many miracles in the world that are ignored because of the disasters we hear about so often. I really loved this, I was enraptured by the very start!

[Forest Green]

Approaching the issue of technological momentum by the use of poetic allusions is a challenge indeed. Staying just this side of a rant, I found your words compelling. There is an importance to poetry given by the urgencies of the day; morality within the bounds of science is critical to our survival. And keeping the importance of life and the giving of life within the fore of public discourse is an everpresent challenge to the writer of prose and lyrics.

Excellent work!

Daniel

[Cold Coffee Magazine]

I loved this. It is truely a magical trip into the mind. I was intriqued and delighted in a breath with ech stanza.

Magnificent!

Dave

[A.J. Smith]

Oh my goodness, Siddartha, another beautiful gem. Oh, wow, you are good...your brain is a national treasure (forgive me my gushing). I love, love, love this piece. You know, I really can't be objective in my reviews of you because I pretty much love everything you write. I like to think that's perfectly okay, because I am aesthetically inclined and have high standards, think I recognize really good when I see and read it. No computer, no code in the world could produce the magic, the feel, of your words (nor could an infinite number of monkeys). Well done (again), my friend.

[Stonewall]

Quite a nice message in this poem, although I found it a litte hard to read. I tend to think this of most poetry, but I think this could do with some punctuation to guide the reader of the rhythm and flowl.