We inhabit a universe where atoms are made in the centers of stars; where each second a thousand suns are born; where life is sparked by sunlight and lightning in the airs and waters of youthful planets; where the raw material for biological evolution is sometimes made by the explosion of a star halfway across the Milky Way; where a thing as beautiful as a galaxy is formed a hundred billion times - a Cosmos of quasars and quarks, snowflakes and fireflies, where there may be black holes and other universe and extraterrestrial civilizations whose radio messages are at this moment reaching the Earth. How pallid by comparison are the pretensions of superstition and pseudoscience; how important it is for us to pursue and understand science, that characteristically human endeavor.
Carl Sagan in Cosmos
Submitted by Catalin Popescu
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Conflicting Views On Who We Are
Who am I?
Science
A fortuitous concord of atoms are we
Appearing by chance and now you happen to be
You just evolved as evolution had its way
Such is mankind the modern scientists say
The Bible
Created by God and fashioned out of His love
With a designer label from the Lord above
Made in God's image is written for all to see
So fearfully and wonderfully made are we
What am I?
Science
You are composed of very complex chemistry
Another one of the mammals are you to me
A hominid formed by natural selection
made when evolution altered its direction
The Bible
You are a new creation we hear God say
Born again and no longer of earthly clay
A child of God cleansed and made anew
No more does Satan have any hold on you
Whose am I?
Science
You belong to no one and are all on your own
A member of the human race and all alone
Answerable only to yourself and society
And solely responsible for your destiny
The Bible
But The Almighty God says 'My child you are Mine
Made by Me and portraying My image divine
Moulded and fashioned by My tender, loving care
Part of My family and My kingdom you'll share'
Where am I?
Science
At the top of the evolutionary tree
On a planet in the Milky Way Galaxy
You will not always occupy that topmost space
As evolution continues to take its place
The Bible
'You are so precious and important to Me
So special that I gave My life to set you free
And Now You're walking along the heavenly way
On your journey home to Me', we hear our God say
In a sense, human flesh is made of stardust. Every atom in the human body, excluding only the primordial hydrogen atoms, was fashioned in stars that formed, grew old and exploded most violently before the Sun and the Earth came into being. The explosions scattered the heavy elements as a fine dust through space. By the time it made the Sun, the primordial gas of the Milky Way was sufficiently enriched with heavier elements for rocky planets like the Earth to form. And from the rocks atoms escaped for eventual incorporation in living things: carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulphur for all living tissue; calcium for bones and teeth; sodium and potassium for the workings of nerves and brains; the iron colouring blood red… and so on. No other conclusion of modern research testifies more clearly to mankind’s intimate connections with the universe at large and with the cosmic forces at work among the stars.
quote by Nigel Calder
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Outside Myself
I look through my body
at the world, the stars, moons,
stars beyond stars
I know there are stars, moons
stars beyond stars too
circling all within my finite self
this temporary sphere I am crowned with
the aura that shines from these
trillion of cells
all the moving atoms,
electrons, protons,
the universe inside and out
I look at them
from my infinite self
god the puppeteer
skillfully playing
the beginning, the end
I came out of the two walls
the human brain is kept in
to take a peep at myself, the universe
the moons, suns, universe,
stars beyond stars
I find a galaxy I possess
so many stars, moons, suns
the cells blazing with life, light
all working out of my control
as I join god to take
a look at his worlds
a meteor flashes by
a cell loses hold
flushed by blood to another world
all the stars, moons,
universe outside and inside
all the cells that I own
that soon would squeeze me out
to join the plane
where I could view
the beat of the universe
standing beside god
witnessing all his designs
wondering all the motives
behind his pupputeering
the moons, the suns, the universe
the cells acting out his drama round and round
casting off light
I saw a star burst
light light years away
the cancer patient
carrying a cell
that too has burst
soon to cast that black hole
over the finite self
the infinite journeys to
rest on another finite self
the universe
I stand by the creator
to look at his puppeteering
wondering his motives in his design
my mind flying outside the brain
I look at the the world, universe,
stars, moon, meteors, stars beyond stars
and myself that
swing with stars, moons,
stars beyond stars
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Between the Creator and Me
I look through my body
at the world, the stars, moons,
stars beyond stars
I know there are stars, moons
stars beyond stars too
circling all within my finite self
this temporary sphere I am crowned with
the aura that shines from these
trillion of cells
all the moving atoms,
electrons, protons,
the universe inside and out
I look at them
from my infinite self
god the puppeteer
skillfully playing
the beginning, the end
I came out of the two walls
the human brain is kept in
to take a peep at myself, the universe
the moons, suns, universe,
stars beyond stars
I find a galaxy I possess
so many stars, moons, suns
the cells blazing with life, light
all working out of my control
as I join god to take
a look at his worlds
a meteor flashes by
a cell loses hold
flushed by blood to another world
all the stars, moons,
universe outside and inside
all the cells that I own
that soon would squeeze me out
to join the plane
where I could view
the beat of the universe
standing beside god
witnessing all his designs
wondering all the motives
behind his pupputeering
the moons, the suns, the universe
the cells acting out his drama round and round
casting off light
I saw a star burst
light light years away
the cancer patient
carrying a cell
that too has burst
soon to cast that black hole
over the finite self
the infinite journeys to
rest on another finite self
the universe
I stand by the creator
to look at his puppeteering
wondering his motives in his design
my mind flying outside the brain
I look at the the world, universe,
stars, moon, meteors, stars beyond stars
and myself that
swing with stars, moons,
stars beyond stars
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Watching The Rebirth Of Your Star...(repost)
when your universe breaks
in the same manner that other universe does
the most natural thing
that must happen
i, in my own, planetary motion,
watch the shattering and the bursting
of the bubble
it is not that i want to see
how you destroy yourself
i am not that
sadistic, the stars know me by heart
and the moon likes me for that
it is this
within you, after, shall be
the birth of the
new star
and this happens
all you have to do is just wait
because
as always stars are born
after an explosion
tell you what?
it will be the best stage to watch
the nicest thing that happens to you
also happens
to me
and once again the universe
celebrates again
each, happy again,
following each own
planetary orbit
with Sun as God
with the other planets as
friends.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Seeing the world with god
i look through my body
at the world, the stars, moon
stars beyond stars
i know there are stars, moon
stars beyond stars too
from my temporary sphere
the aura that shines
from this physical self
the trillion of cells
all the moving atoms,
electrons, protons
the universe inside and out
i look at them
from my infinite self
god the puppeteer
shrewdly playing
the beginning, the end
the two walls
between the human brain
the man innocently walks
to oblivion
some attempt to broaden the width
others like me attempt to
to burst out of the walls
to take a peep outside
the limitations, this physical self
the world outside
the god inside and out
the moon, sun, universe
the things outside
i too have become a galaxy
as i join god to take
a look at his worlds
a meteor flashes by
a cell loses hold
flushed by blood
to another world
an infinite me
looking at the finite me
all the stars, moons,
universe outside
and inside
all the cells that i own
that soon would
squeeze me out
to join the plane
where i could view
the beat of the universe
the expansive universe
myself a galaxy
the zillion of selves
those stars, suns
spinning towards
a full stop?
eternity?
the human brain
stretched towards
a world of no end
suffocated in its attempt
i stand beside god
for just a moment
to take a peek at
all his workings
wondering all the motives
behind his pupputeering
the moons, the suns, the universe
the cells acting out his drama
round and round
casting off light
i saw a star burst
light light years away
the cancer patient
carrying a cell
that too has burst
soon to cast that black hole
over the finite self
the infinite journeys to
rest on another finite self
the universe
i standby the creator
to look at his puppeteering
wondering his motives
in his design
the privilege he gives me
to share a view
of his craft
my mind flying
outside the two walls
of the brain
instead of between
infinity
my body
the universe
i look at them
like the stars, moon, meteors
this infinite me
with a finite self
of stars, moons,
stars beyond stars
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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We on Earth have just awakened to the great oceans of space and time from which we have emerged. We are the legacy of 15 billion years of cosmic evolution. We have a choice: We can enhance life and come to know the universe that made us, or we can squander our 15 billion-year heritage in meaningless self-destruction. What happens in the first second of the next cosmic year depends on what we do, here and now, with our intelligence and our knowledge of the cosmos.
quote by Carl Sagan
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Sonnet: The Universe
Many are the suns than the Sun we know;
Our Sun is just one star in Milky Way;
And centrally sited, luminous- oh!
Giving the earth, light and heat every day.
Planets in orbits move around the Sun,
Spinning on their own and looking round;
The Universe is wonderful with fun,
And harmonious, by physical laws bound.
Earth’s the only place where man best can live;
And God made man with love, ensouled him too;
To all creatures earthly, man must love give,
And love Mother Nature, her secrets woo.
Science takes man closer towards God sometime;
His soul must remain pure and mind sublime.
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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We live on a hunk of rock and metal that circles a humdrum star that is one of 400 billion other stars that make up the Milky Way Galaxy which is one of billions of other galaxies which make up a universe which may be one of a very large number, perhaps an infinite number, of other universes. That is a perspective on human life and our culture that is well worth pondering.
quote by Carl Sagan
Submitted by Catalin Popescu
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Destruction And Rebirth...
when your universe breaks
in the same manner that other universes do
the most natural thing
that must happen
i, in my own, planetary motion,
watch
the shattering and the bursting
of the great bubble in you
it is not that i want to see
how you destroy yourself
i am not that
sadistic,
the stars know me by heart
and the moon likes me for that
it is this
within you,
after,
shall be
the birth of the
new star
and this happens
all you have to do is just wait
because
as always stars are born
after an explosion
tell you what
it will be the best stage to watch
the nicest thing that happens to you
also happens
to me
and once again the universe
celebrates
and dances and toasts with the lights
of the stars
the meteors sweep sorrows
throwing everything negative away into the
edges of darkness
each now, is happy again,
following each own
planetary orbit
strictly upon its own joyous terms
with Sun as God
with the other planets as angels and
friends.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Ten Stars
In the motion of the universe,
The rotation of planets,
The conjuction of the wind,
There my sight witnesses,
The opposition of stars
Rare but wonderfully made
I count the stars and make my wish,
My summit shall i reach,
With her in poverty i'm rich
Im a happy man,
I saw ten stars
Star number one,
Besides you let there be none,
Star number two,
To love you more, never a few,
Star number three,
My love unto you for free
Star number four,
The love we built to never fall,
Star number five,
Wish all things but mostly life
How wonderful are they, ten stars
In this lonely night my heart beats faster,
I make wishes, but they are not my master,
I point the stars and make wishes,
How beautiful are they, ten stars
Star number six,
So shall our foes fall by the axe
Star number seven,
Against all odds we remain even
Star number eight,
We shall so grow above heights,
Star number nine,
Of course, , to remain mine
Star number ten
I wish to make hundred wishes per day
How beautiful are they, ten stars
poem by Gaylord Munemo
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Fireflies On A Tree
there are no stars tonight
but there are fireflies
teemng the leaves of
this tree
in darkness
o wo wo wo
the fireflies
are mimicking stars
but in inferior flickers
substituting
real twinkles
the tree in the dark
now begins
to look like
the Milky Way Galaxy
and look at you
you are nothing
but an atom
vibrating
making some assurance
that you are still
alive
in this mimicry
of the universe
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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A Great Wonder
It is no wonder
the grand Universe
does not go asunder
which is so diverse
as a spider-web grand
made up of Galaxies billions
with many a connecting strand
of Stars trillions and trillions.
It is no wonder
when our complete Solar system
in its motion performs no blunder
with its Planets, and Sub-system
being a part of Milky Way
along with asteroids and comets.
All the components with precision play
from their appointed posits.
It is no wonder
the Earth revolving around the Sun.
Even when we ponder
the circles of the Sun's turn
to the centre of the galaxy
of stars in true radiancy.
It is a great wonder
and an exclusive mystery
as to how the kind human mind is a blender
of gore, and murder is the query!
poem by Chandra Thiagarajan
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Galaxy Song
When youre feeling inside out and insecure,
and life keeps getting you down.
When all lifes daily worrieshurry through your head.
You dont want to even get up.
You just lie around in bed.
When you feel you just cant take it anymore
And you wonder what on earth it is all foryour love lifes like a war zone
Your tvs on the blinkits enough to drive a drinking man to stop and take a
Think
just remember that you standing on a planet thats evolving,revolving at 900
Miles an hour.its orbiting at 19 miles a second, so its reckoned,
A sun that is the source of all our power.
The sun and you and me and all the stars that we can see
Are moving at a million miles a day.
In an outer spiral orb, at 40,000 miles an hour,
Of the galaxy we call the milky way
Our galaxy itself contains a hundred billion stars.
Its a 100,000 light years side to side
It bulges in the middle 16,000 light years thick,
But out by us its just 3,000 light years wide.
Were 30,000 light years from galactic central point.
We go round every 200,000,000 years.
And our galaxy is only one of millions of billions
In this amazing and expanding universe.
Our universe itself keeps on expanding and expanding
In all of the directions it can whiz
As fast as it can go, the speed of light you know, 12,000,000 miles a minute,
And thats the fastest speed there is!
So, remember when youre feeling very small and insecure
How amazingly unlikely is your birth.
And pray that theres intelligent life somewhere up in space,
cause Im afraid that weve been cheated here on earth.
song performed by by Clint Black
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Nine Billion Names Of God
Once nine billion names of God were known
the world would end, the monks declared.
When scientists transferred them from a stone
on which He’d written them, they then compared
these names to those of all the stars astronomers
had managed to discover, and thus found
a proof their names were all eponymous,
based on a God, who out of sight and sound,
left traces in the starry sky that He
exists, the Founder of the universe.
Once this was known, they could no longer see
the stars, which He extinguished with a curse,
because although He challenges us to know
His names, He does not want us to find out
precisely where the trees of knowledge grow,
because His universe is based on doubt.
Dennis Overbye (“A Boy’s Life, Guided by the Cosmic Wonder, ” NYT, March 25,2007) writes about the science fiction writer and space visionary, the co-creator with Stanley Kubrick of the classic 1968 movie “2001: A Space Odyssey”. Overbye, who was greatly influenced by Clarke’s writings which he describes as the ultimate reason why he ended up becoming an MIT graduate, reports that a supernova exploded in the constellation Boötes on the day of Clarke’s death:
It was the remains of a cataclysmic explosion, a gamma-ray burst, that must have torched a galaxy seven billion light-years away, around the curve of the cosmos, as Clarke might have put it. Nobody knows if there could have been somebody or something living there, when the universe was half its present age. When I heard about it I couldn’t help thinking about Clarke’s Jesuit and the star of Bethlehem. Whoever or whatever was there now belongs to the ages. Darkness has now reclaimed that spot in the sky.
Overbye also writes:
In his short story “The Nine Billion Names of God, ” published in 1953, Clarke wrote of a pair of computer programmers sent to a remote monastery in Tibet to help the monks there use a computer to compile a list of all the names of God. Once the list was complete, the monks believed, human and cosmic destiny would be fulfilled and the world would end. The programmers are fleeing the mountain, hoping to escape the monks’ wrath when the program finishes and the world is still there, when one of them looks up. “Overhead, without any fuss, the stars were going out.”
3/25/08
poem by Gershon Hepner
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We have begun to contemplate our origins: starstuff pondering the stars; organized assemblages of ten billion billion billion atoms considering the evolution of atoms; tracing the long journey by which, here at least, consciousness arose.
unknown author
Submitted by Catalin Popescu
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Visions of grace
i’m looking for the face i had before the world was made
I was the primordial flaring forth, the gravitational waves,
the whirling galaxies, and the exploding supernovas that would become stars and planets.
I was the steaming planet Earth, the bacteria awash in the sea,
and the early eukaryotes and multicellular animals.
I exploded in the Cambrian explosion, stumbled onto land,
walked with dinosaurs, saw trees and flowers appear, walked upright in Africa, and walked on the moon.
I felt the embrace of gravity. I was one with all that had been and all that was to be.
I experienced subjective mystical communion with the evolutionary, emergent universe. I was the universe.
We know not where the journey leads, nor whether a final destination is even a meaningful concept.
The attraction is the inherent thrill of participating in a grand creative endeavor for which participation is its own reward.
poem by Alexis Karpouzos from Deadline (15 April 2017), translated by Alexis Karpouzos
Submitted by Mary karas
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After all, the universe required ten billion years of evolution before life was even possible; the evolution of the stars and the evolving of new chemical elements in the nuclear furnaces of the stars were indispensable prerequisites for the generation of life.
quote by John Polkinghorne
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Chaos Of Chaos
sun from another universe
to sun to another universe
the planets of the two universes
and even the distant stars
have always feared their fusion
but no matter what: love they say
has its own reasons of fusion
and whatever destruction is caused
to the surrounding planets and
neighboring stars, the wild rupture
the massive explosion, love they say
always triumphs with justifications saying
there is another new smarter beginning
and what is it but love & love just the same
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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You are like an alien
Your behavior has hurt me so much
My mind has exploded like a supernova
The scattered emotions are turning into poetry
Revolving around you my star like planets and comets
Your beauty has impressed me so much
My love has turned into something like a nebula
That is giving birth to lust's light like newborn stars
Your make-believe has made me believe
That true love really exists in this dreary world
And gives me light in the darkness like distant quasars
Every now and then the fights with you
Has turned you into something like a black hole
Now you are invisible to me but attract me ever more
You are like a sweet dream in the dreadful night
But it will not come true in this life coz you are like an alien
In the 2.5 million light-years away from earth Andromeda galaxy
poem by Asif Andalib
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