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A Scientist's Why
Just the other day
The universe was born
In a fitful rage,
Churning and spitting fire.
And debris hurled
Collided
Assembled
Fell apart.
And stars lived out their lives
In a single breath lasting
Ten billion years.
While on a hellish rock,
Life appeared.
Just a few acids,
But they would become
Everything
To a funny creature called man
Who appeared moments later.
And the great, swirling universe
Cooked up beautiful sunrises
Every morning
While the wet little planet
Rained down on the people
In their villages
Their towns
Their cities
As they gazed at the heavens,
Trying to make sense of it all.
Thousands of years
Of wonder
Of ideas
Of math
Of books
And this morning,
The universe shook me awake
And smiling,
Offered it all to me.
Every last map and sketch and equation.
Wake up!
It said.
And after all that effort,
How could I say no?