OT: Sonnet [Was Re: Linguistics]



John Dean wrote:
> http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/02/050223150852.htm
>
> May be of interest here. Extracts:

It was, though this qualitative stuff can't be all that original.

> "Sand dunes in the desert or ripples at the bottom of a streambed come
> about from the air or water flowing over them and the way individual
> grains of sand happen to bounce against one another," Wedel said.
>
> "No individual sand grain knows that it is part of a sand dune or
> streambed. It is these repeated, small-scale interactions that, over
> time, result in this big, global structure that has a lot of order but
> isn't preprogrammed into the sand grains in any direct sense."
....

Sorry, but you have caused me to post an old poem of mine. Comments
and criticism are welcome; personal abuse is not.

Creative Anachronism

Each river-atom asks, "Why's my zigzag course
Down more than up, stained with factory dyes,
Bent by pork-barrel dockworks?" while outside eyes
(If such could be) see them all obey one force.
So I imagine a man from nearer the source,
Not to escape (he's just me in disguise)
But to row with muscles running won't exercise,
And ask what view of the future he'll endorse.

--Since packs of cynics rent all I suppose,
Hope is the most I'll offer whilst I'm here.
Then hope thou never know'st the fatal year,
And, as from blood and bled sprang Tudor rose
And thy brief states from tradesman's grumbling prose,
To batten at the wrack white gulls appear.

--
Copyright Jerry Friedman

.



Relevant Pages

  • Re: Scientists map miles of underwater dunes
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    (sci.fractals)
  • Mystery Sand on Saturn Moon - Titan
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  • Sandy soils
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