What creatures dream?

Close-up of M17 by the Hubble Space Telescope

 

What creatures dream?

 

     "...Breathe in the possibilities..."

 

What creatures dream on other worlds?

On planets born where matter swirls

With multi-moons and triple suns

With days like months and seasons none

 

What poetry and science there?

On lands most hot, where winds are rare

In frigid seas of nitrogen

When stars exhaust their hydrogen

 

And what, then, their philosophy?

With water a great rarity

When lava flows in fire falls

When life but lives in cavern halls

 

And what of worlds beyond our ken?

Existence with dimension ten

When time’s dimensions number two

Fate both before and after you

 

What poetry might be, my friend

On the sad worlds where time does end

With space dimensions less than three

Where physics can’t support a tree

 

Can you imagine such a world?

That chance into existence hurled

And though these worlds beyond me be

I prize their possibility

 

Do creatures dream on other worlds?

I think it so, when thoughts unfurl

And gazing up into the sky

It's awe of life that draws my sigh

 

 

 

©2008, Richard Puetter

All rights reserved

Featured in the online magazine "People Are Amazing", May 27, 2015--see http://people-are-amazing.com/what-creatures-dream/.

Author's Note

Dear Readers,

This poem, "What creatures dream", and me, the author, were featured on the on-line magazine "People Are Amazing" in June of 2015. Below is the article that appeared with the poem.

My best regards,

Rick

----- Magazine Article -----

This week I’ve been lucky enough to spend time with author and professional astronomer Richard Puetter. Richard, who was introduced to poetry at a young age by his father, admits that as he grew up, the fascinations with science and mathematics outstripped his ambitions as a writer, but in later years, as he sought to publish chapters of a fantasy novel he was working on, the lure of poetry was once again reinvigorated.

To me, Richard is a fascinating writer. He sees beyond a work’s potential to move people, and understands it’s potential to communicate. “While most poets would quickly agree that emotion is the fundamental part of writing poetry (and this is probably the motivation behind poetic writing), poetry itself speaks to the mind. It is language. If done properly it is the highest form of communication. But it is different than music or painting, for example. Those arts talk more directly to the pure emotional part of us. But poetry hits us without the need for sound and without visual input. It speaks to our minds, and the intellect then fires up the emotional being inside of us.”

Richard goes on to explain, “That is why unlike lots of other poets, I like to write pieces that are chock-full of facts, and in many of my pieces you’ll find pages of footnotes. I think this can fire up the mind all on its own, and then the poetic work can be seen on a broader canvas, which increases the emotional potential."

I like to think of Richard as a purist, a perfectionist, someone that’s always tinkering, perfecting, adapting. His writing is alive and evolving continuously as he grows, learns, reconsiders. Indeed he would tell you himself, “I think a poem is living art. It only is finished, at least for me, when the poet dies.” While I was talking with him, he pointed me to a quote attributed to noble laureate physicist Feyman.

“I have a friend who’s an artist, and has sometimes taken a view which I don’t agree with very well. He’ll hold up a flower and say “look how beautiful it is,” and I’ll agree. Then he says “I as an artist can see how beautiful this is, but you as a scientist take this all apart and it becomes a dull thing,” and I think that he’s kind of nutty. First of all, the beauty that he sees is available to other people, and to me too, I believe. Although I may not be quite as refined aesthetically as he is … I can appreciate the beauty of a flower. At the same time, I see much more about the flower than he sees. I could imagine the cells in there, the complicated actions inside, which also have a beauty. I mean it’s not just beauty at this dimension, at one centimetre; there’s also beauty at smaller dimensions, the inner structure, also the processes. The fact that the colours in the flower evolved in order to attract insects to pollinate it, is interesting; it means that insects can see the colour. It adds a question: does this aesthetic sense also exist in the lower forms? Why is it aesthetic? All kinds of interesting questions which the science knowledge only adds to the excitement, the mystery and the awe of a flower. It only adds. I don’t understand how it subtracts.”

This is the wonderful ability that Richard possess. He can see beyond the words of his poetry and communicate through his writing effectively and efficiently. He is able to write with inspiration in his words, inspiration that might awaken the hungry mind of a young reader to question the universe in which he or she lives. It is the ability to prompt the reader to ponder the presented facts, to mull over the concepts and ideas that lie within the writing. Richard’s ability to channel his own curiosity and share it with his readers is masterful and refreshing. It is the prime reason that I find myself fascinated and enchanted by his work, and am so excited to share it with our readers.

Richard Puetter is a prolific writer, not only of poetry, but of a whole array of stories, novels and books that will enthral and enchant you. If you’d like to know any more about Richard Puetter or follow him online, please use the links provided below.

Reviews

[Emily Rose]

I exist! And I really like this - it's great to ponder the existence of other worlds and other creatures on those worlds, especially for one so informed about science as yourself. Your knowledge really carries into your poetry!

I have some little things, of course. In your second stanza, "What poetry and science there" makes sense, but it's still a little unclear. Why not "is poetry and science there?" It would add a verb to the line, plus it makes it sound a bit more inquisitive. I would recommend a similar fix in the first line of the third stanza - "what, then, their philosophy" sounds a little more archaic than I think the tone really supports, so I would recommend "And what is their philosophy?" or "Do they know philosophy?" or something equally as inquisitive. Starting off with verbs, even if they aren't particularly strong verbs, is a great way to bring more clarity and focus to a line. I find the fifth stanza a little confusing as well; I think it's the question mark the throws me off, since it implies that I new idea is being started in the next line, when it's much more clear to read the lines together: "What poetry might be, my friend, in the sad worlds where time does end, with space demensions less than three, where physics cannot hold a tree?" (I must say, too, that the "physics cannot hold a tree" line strikes me as slightly out of place and more there for the sake of the rhyme scheme than anything else. I can see what you're doing with it; a tree couldn't very well exist in a two-demensional world, but even so, it seems a little random after you're talking about such a heavy subject as the destruction of time.)

The last stanza is wonderful, by the way, although (and I'm sure you knew I'd say this) I think adding more punctuation to the poem in general would make it much clearer. It's your choice, though. Well done as usual, Rick!

[Miss Coral]

Honestly, when I read that you're a scientist, my standards dropped quite a bit. Generally, when people are really into the sciences and maths of the world, they tend to look down on the literary parts. And vice versa.

So not true for you.
AMAZING mesh of science and writing, and a wonderful piece.
Great job!!

[Ruth]

Again, wonderful imagery here and gets you thinking:) As for other worlds, goodness knows how many there are! I believe there are thousands that hold life!

We all dream, stands to eason other creatures would too lol

A thought provoking poem sweet, wonderful:) xx

[Demetria.Ro$e.Hathaway]

Sweet Poem i liked it

[Jeff Bresee]

With stars and planets numbering in the trillions...it is rather narrow minded to think that we have a corner on the market of life and splendid design.

I love the style and the feeling of it. It made me drift away for a bit.

[Nancy Lee Shrader]

Fantastic!!!

[heido]

I exist! To echo Emily Rose (echo is such a lovely word, it just kind of rolls off of ones tounge) back to my review. I loved this. I am sure you meant to inspire awe, you succeed, you also meant to educate I'm sure. You again succeed. You have asked of me no premisis. So of course I come with a question, as you know I am always apt to do.

My sister a wise wise woman in my life, perhaps my only source of unconditional love said to me once of her son Nakehko (two fires/spirits) in Denay. He is colorblind, he is very black and white on people. You are either moral and dignified enough to be in his life or you are not. You can nevere regain lost respect and can only earn respect and once you have it, it can be irretrievably lost. My sister says, he see's the world black and white, there is no grey area, it either is or isn't, he believes it so firmly that he himself has become colorblind.

Now being the woman I am, I had to wonder, is this thought is power? Is this the pagan principal of manifestation and energies. Or is this evolution, his own personal evolution to have his eye sight adapt to his characteristics? It's a funny thing when my sister throws wisdom into my science and faith. I love her dearly.

[Kitty]

Wow!!! This is what thoughts are about. A fantastic poem!!!! Thank you for entering the Thoughts contest. Sorry it has taken so long to read through, but I have to say, this was well worth the read!!!!!

Josie

[cest la vie]

Rick,
Like Emma, I stared at the picture for a few minutes, prior to starting a most delightful and thought provoking read. I love the way you have brought the questions of science into the folds of poetry.
The flow of this poem is so smooth.The lines are actually like bits of things an intuned science teacher may ask his class. Wouldn't just the reading of this piece stimulate the most interesting conversation?

"Do creatures dream on other worlds?I think it so, when thoughts unfurlAnd gazing up into the sky It's awe of life that draws my sigh"

This closing stanza takes all of the previous questions and leaves the reader with one final thought to ponder. I personally do think there is life on other places within our universe.

I am so glad you asked me to read this poem. It is so well written, asks great questions, and lets the reader ask more questions. very thought provoking.

Excellent write!
Lynne

[Ellen Hammond]

I love this poem. You have a wonderful way of commingling your passions of science with poetry. The rhyme and meter are great as always which makes for a lovely read. But, the idea behind it is what really grasped my interest and held it to the last word and beyond. I have often thought that many limit the possibility of life on other plants by looking for life only as we know it in our limited understanding of life. This blows the lid off that thinking cap and should open minds to think outside the box.

Your picture is amazing too. Interesting that just next to the white streak on the top left there appeared to be a face. Then, as I tilted my head to the left, I and stared, not only did a face become clearer but I could visualize a what looks like an almost ghostly person hugging a dog with pointed ears, Now you may think I am really see things. But try tilting your head and just staring at one point for a few seconds.

I am so glad I received a read request for this one. This is one of my favorites of your poems, I think. But then I can say that about most of them. I love a flowing read that makes me think too. Simply outstanding!

[emmajoy]

' On planets born where matter swirls ~~ With multi-moons and triple suns ~~With days like months and seasons none ' - wonderful!

Firstly, your picture is incredible, I've just stared and stared at it for maybe two minutes and don't think I want to come back to earth .. but, to write about this post, needs must!

Having read this twice, the immediate thought that comes to mind is: Why do Earthlings assume that some form of LIFE can't possibly exist on another planet? That's rather like saying 'My country is the best in the world.' without ever leaving home!

Again you use the 'Hiawatha' meter which makes your poetry so easy to follow, (if not to understand). It's as if hearing a song and tapping a foot to the rhythm of it.

'What poetry and science there? ~~ On lands most hot, where winds are rare ~~ In frigid seas of nitrogen ~~ When stars exhaust their hydrogen' fills me with questions I can't even understand. Surely we doubt too much, making comparisons about worlds we can't - in the main, understand unless we have the necessary knowledge. But to close our minds and imagination to possibility, to probability, to life and, therefore, thought, is tragic. I can't understand some, no, in truth, a lot of what you've written but I accept it because my earthly life has to adventure into corners.

Science is what it is - exploratory and proved knowledge used by the mind, poetry is knowledge used by unleashed emotion; if there is 'science' on another planet (and there has to be) then, wonder and poetry in any form must surely follow.

Do I know what I'm talking about, maybe not.. but can only think my thoughts after reading a wonderfully descriptive and thought-tugging poem.