A Long, Flat Poem
Miles Hitchcock
There is a surface
that goes on forever
flat and silent
with no distinction between
any point
and any other.
Yet a taint
appears a dent
a tiny shudder
the chance collision
of two points tilts
the flat surface
imperceptibly
and it quickly rights itself
but in so doing
another tarnish appears
an imperfection
to complement the first
setting in motion
another to balance
the second
and so on
until the entire surface
starts to vibrate
like a cymbal a field
bringing tone and difference
into the world:
colours shapes feelings
thoughts patterns divisions
forests nodes systems
each new part
bringing balance
to complement every other.
So electrons spin
suns begin
cells divide
and the world is brought
into being.
The science behind the piece:
Science proposes the universe came into being from quantum-gravity fluctuations, whilst Eastern metaphysics proposes it is maintained by the flow and balance of opposing forces. A Long Flat Poem describes a complex world coming into being from such simple events and processes.
Listen to Miles read the poem: