Sunday, August 05, 2018
Poem: Possessions
By: Donovan Baldwin
I need not cadillacs, or caviar, or crowns.
Wealth to me is time and chance
To choose my words and thoughts
Pasting them upon some pristine page,
On days I choose to make the effort.
Power is to have another
Read and understand
Those words I have written
Taking some of it away.
Fame is to toss out
Some small thought or song
Or simile or metaphor
Picked up by someone else forever.
Food is cheese and bread,
Slice of meat, bowl of salad,
Simple lettuce and tomato,
With a cold glass of beer or wine.
Peace is sleeping each night
Waking to sun or rain,
But not to hatred or death,
Of friend or stranger.
I need not cadillacs, or caviar, or crowns.
Wealth to me is time and chance
To choose my words and thoughts
Pasting them upon some pristine page,
On days I choose to make the effort.
Power is to have another
Read and understand
Those words I have written
Taking some of it away.
Fame is to toss out
Some small thought or song
Or simile or metaphor
Picked up by someone else forever.
Food is cheese and bread,
Slice of meat, bowl of salad,
Simple lettuce and tomato,
With a cold glass of beer or wine.
Peace is sleeping each night
Waking to sun or rain,
But not to hatred or death,
Of friend or stranger.
Labels: donovan baldwin, fame, food, peace, poem, poetry, possessions, power, wealth
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Praise For Not Doing The Work
By Donovan Baldwin
I recently read a book on how so many scientific discoveries and breakthroughs were actually known and used by "ordinary" people.
It's surprising to learn that many a famous, revered, historical figure in scientific circles did not invent the knowledge with which they, and their fame, are associated.
Oh, the gravity of the situation.
In many instances, the "sung" hero of the literature is praised for recognizing, compiling, labeling, categorizing, the knowledge and lore of "unsung" experts.
Whether doctor, engineer, or astronomer; some poor shaman, witch, carpenter, mason, or sailor; i.e. the "common man", often had, and used, the knowledge for decades, or centuries, long before philosopher, mathematician, scribe, and printer joined forces to elucidate equations and theorems on paper.
In high school, I studied Algebra (I & II), Geometry (Plane & Solid), and Trigonometry, but, never understood the application, OR theory, so much as the day a nearly illiterate journeyman carpenter demonstrated, AND EXPLAINED IN PLAIN LANGUAGE, how to find the center of a 3 3/4 inch board by dividing a whole number by 2, because the two edges were parallel lines.
Science, and scientific data, are important, and powerful, yet, but, at bottom, most computers use a system of "ones" and "zeros", to accurately perform many of their most complex functions.
I guess the moral is, "Don't let scientific theory, academia, and intelligentsia, overshadow common sense and practical application."
It's surprising to learn that many a famous, revered, historical figure in scientific circles did not invent the knowledge with which they, and their fame, are associated.
Oh, the gravity of the situation.
In many instances, the "sung" hero of the literature is praised for recognizing, compiling, labeling, categorizing, the knowledge and lore of "unsung" experts.
Whether doctor, engineer, or astronomer; some poor shaman, witch, carpenter, mason, or sailor; i.e. the "common man", often had, and used, the knowledge for decades, or centuries, long before philosopher, mathematician, scribe, and printer joined forces to elucidate equations and theorems on paper.
In high school, I studied Algebra (I & II), Geometry (Plane & Solid), and Trigonometry, but, never understood the application, OR theory, so much as the day a nearly illiterate journeyman carpenter demonstrated, AND EXPLAINED IN PLAIN LANGUAGE, how to find the center of a 3 3/4 inch board by dividing a whole number by 2, because the two edges were parallel lines.
Science, and scientific data, are important, and powerful, yet, but, at bottom, most computers use a system of "ones" and "zeros", to accurately perform many of their most complex functions.
I guess the moral is, "Don't let scientific theory, academia, and intelligentsia, overshadow common sense and practical application."
Labels: donovan baldwin, fame, hero, philosopher, scientists
