Impure Mathematics
Let others consider pure mathematics,
I see a world
where reality leaves its mark
and the clockwork
gets shorter all the time
while time runs out.
Where no flowers remain
for the light brown bee
and everything pine away into a desert
and the greenhouse effect
covers the whole wide world,
the ozone layer burning away
and the sky full of grey clouds
shedding thunder and rain down
and waves
braking further over the horizon
in to the land
smashing in torrents
and man is dumbstruck
almost frozen
about the effect
of his own handiwork.
[Reference: Suiwer Wiskunde by N.P. Van wyk Louw.]
poem by Gert Strydom
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Related quotes
Will Nature At A Time Be Really Lost? (Cavatina Sequence)
(after Archibald MacLeish)
Will nature at a time be really lost,
no snowflake fall
as the world becomes extremely hot,
while big and small
live in a man-made kind of sheer hot hell?
If man kills all;
the fish, each bird, each animal and tree,
what's living will at a time, no more be.
No bird will sing, or even be flying,
tranquility
will be gone in a world as stark as stone,
each thing lovely,
each leaping fish, diving crying great eagle
will die slowly,
when all of the ozone layer is gone
and the greenhouse effect just lingers on.
[Reference: 'The Snowflake Which Is Now And Hence Forever' by Archibald MacLeish.}
poem by Gert Strydom
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Caught in time
There are great images and events
that for ever
are caught in my thoughts,
like pure mathematics,
where things doesn’t continue
and are frozen
while the clockwork stops striking.
The Eagle that tries to catch
a fish out of the water
of which the feathers
with the dive
rise up,
that hangs frozen
above the waves
before its claws
can ever break the waves.
The sun that stretches out
its first feelers over the horizon
and hillocks,
as if the bright day
never is going to brake.
‘a Golden full moon
that rules big and bright
over the night,
where it sits
halfway into the sky
as if it’s never
going to move further.
a Rainbow that brightly
touches the earth after the rain,
as if a painter
placed it perfectly
in a beautiful painting.
Lightning bolts that branch white-blue
in the night sky
and resound in the heaven,
as if they are never
going to strike the ground.
Rain that on a cloudless day
fall out of a blue sky,
while no thunder rumbles
anywhere near.
Maybe I can look at precious moments
that still stays with me,
and made a difference to my life.
The knowledge that a Almighty God
really exists
whose hand is stretched over my works
and just where I go,
I can see His influence
in everything around me.
The first time that I saw my darling
and the image that remains with me
of glowing golden eyes
and red-brown hair,
through which the sun shines
and my heart that felt
as if it wanted to stop in my chest.
The first nice kiss
that I got from her
and the fragrance of her perfume,
that forever
stays with me in my thoughts.
My child that gives the first cry,
as if there will be no other cries
that really matters.
The super hero
that I am in my children’s eyes,
as if no other man
can ever be better.
My dog that waits
day after day at the gate
and hops up and down from gladness
and barks and cries,
as if after a thousand years
I am returning home
and as if it has
no comprehension of time.
poem by Gert Strydom
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Four prayers during the yearly seasons in the Highveld
I. Spring begins
Spring begins in green almond leaves,
in blossoms appearing snow white in a cobalt blue sky
where the sun sits brilliant white, glowing more intense than golden chandeliers,
where flowers appear and bridge the skeleton of every tree
while rain now pours down regularly,
sieves down in every bush and in the lane
with yellow and pink blossoms
appearing daily, puffing out.
Lord, let these times become a tribute
and what was once dead and winnowed
now become joyous, as a hymn of praise to You,
let fruit appear from the blessing that You are showering,
let my weak youth now overflow splendid, intact
in a life grounded on You, let Your light shine through my branches.
[Reference: Vroegherfs (Four prayers during the yearly seasons in the Boland: Early autumn) by N.P. van Wyk Louw]
II. In this graceful spring
In this graceful spring
a glorious sun is shining so exuberant and happy
that I am straying, caught are astonished by Your world
where branches daily get new flowers:
flowers are spreading prettily on almond trees
peaches, apricots en plums are in full flowering
in colours of yellow, pink and snow white
and insects, bees and birds arrive in a wonder world.
where joy now jubilant without pain
is fulfilled in every flower, in my words
appear as Your biggest blessing
while You let glory come down from Your heavens,
that the whole of humanity, knows of growth and maturity,
insects, birds and the whole world shout out Your glory.
[Reference: Uit hierdie ligte herfs (Four prayers during the yearly seasons in the Boland: Out of this light autumn) by N.P. van Wyk Louw.]
III. Now the earth is glowing days long
Now the earth is glowing days long,
in the bright light that shines from a cloudless sky
and the last trees are still flowering
before spring disappears with the onslaught of summer.
Everything is still jubilant with flower upon flower
that uninterrupted find secret power,
in full growth devolving to tasty fruit
binding joy, energy and taste
in a harvest serving the Creator Himself,
gloriously taking us to a magnificent experience
where we admire the magic power of His works
and realize how glorious, overwhelming summer is:
that what once could flower
now turn into the best fruit, with branches full everywhere.
[Reference: Four prayers during the yearly seasons in the Boland Winter by N.P. van Wyk Louw.]
IV. Summer rain
Serenity fell overnight like rain
on the dry meadows of my existence
and uninterrupted and once unobserved the blessings appeared
from Your hand between the thunders that were falling around me.
The whole wide world is soaked where Your waters go
when my adult life suddenly bloomed,
are standing before new splendid horizons,
and dumbfounded I come to the knowledge of Your faithful love.
Here where I am overwhelmed by Your grace
I presume that You lead all paths to growth,
as Your power, life, light convenes in sympathy
where each life at a time comes to fullness
and even insignificant creature are regarded by You
with Your love that shower on sinners as I.
[Reference: Eerste sneeu (Four prayers during the yearly seasons in the Boland: First snow) by N.P. van Wyk Louw.]
poem by Gert Strydom
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What does the new world hold?
What does the modern new world
hold for us?
Smoke and polluted air to breathe,
the ozone layer burning away
and meadows turning
into to desert and useless dust?
What does the modern new world
hold for us?
Flying gun ships, war planes
and tanks
killing people that believe differently
in far off foreign lands?
What does the modern new world
hold for us?
poem by Gert Strydom
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Save Our Sky, Be Ozone-friendly!
Three atoms of Oxygen,
That will make Ozone!
Which is in the Stratosphere,
The Shield’s almost gone.
Absorbing the U-V rays,
That comes from the Sun;
Ozone is so essential,
No more is this fun.
Ozone-holes are increasing,
Stop this if you’re wise;
Blame Man for its depletion,
Skin-Cancer’s on the rise.
Hundred chemicals almost,
Can de-ionize!
Fluro-carbons and Halons,
Mostly terrorize.
These are being widely used,
Phase them out, O Man;
They can cause Cataracts too,
Beware, Ye human.
They cause global-warming, so
Let the Ozone be;
Use those substances only
That’re Ozone- friendly.
September 16 th each year,
Is celebrated always;
As the World’s Day to preserve,
The OZONE LAYER.
BY Dr. JOHN CELES
dedicated to the World Environment Day
poem by John Celes
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The Golden Boat
Clouds rumbling in the sky; teeming rain.
I sit on the river bank, sad and alone.
The sheaves lie gathered, harvest has ended,
The river is swollen and fierce in its flow.
As we cut the paddy it started to rain.
One small paddy-field, no one but me -
Flood-waters twisting and swirling everywhere.
Trees on the far bank; smear shadows like ink
On a village painted on deep morning grey.
On this side a paddy-field, no one but me.
Who is this, steering close to the shore
Singing? I feel that she is someone I know.
The sails are filled wide, she gazes ahead,
Waves break helplessly against the boat each side.
I watch and feel I have seen her face before.
Oh to what foreign land do you sail?
Come to the bank and moor your boat for a while.
Go where you want to, give where you care to,
But come to the bank a moment, show your smile -
Take away my golden paddy when you sail.
Take it, take as much as you can load.
Is there more? No, none, I have put it aboard.
My intense labour here by the river -
I have parted with it all, layer upon layer;
Now take me as well, be kind, take me aboard.
No room, no room, the boat is too small.
Loaded with my gold paddy, the boat is full.
Across the rain-sky clouds heave to and fro,
On the bare river-bank, I remain alone -
What had has gone: the golden boat took all.
poem by Rabindranath Tagore
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Once when I go on God’s way
Once when I go on God’s way
past the restrictions of this world
breaking away from this lonely existence
then I will find you on the other side of the further horizon.
Not straying between foreign fallen stars
but in the bright pure light
when He fetches me, fetches you
we will both be in perfect equilibrium in harmony
where everything always shines bright
no night, no darkness
disturbs the beauty, no evil entrenched
and everything is pure and sacred
and my beloved when you hear my words
after every thing our love still lasts.
[Reference: Gesprek van dooie siele (Conversation of dead souls) by N.P. van Wyk Louw.]
poem by Gert Strydom
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The sum of life
Sometimes I wonder
how life is,
like a sum
with no true answers
and have no result
until its end.
Life stretches
into the distance,
with a end and a beginning
or that is what humans believe;
while nothing can
determine the before and the thereafter
and everything is determined by faith.
What lies on the other side
of life
and what you are
before and after it,
goes from neglibility
to infinity
and I wonder
how that mathematics
still makes sense;
while the clockwork keeps striking
and time goes on
with its own passage
and life
stands still for no one.
Who knows how the Almighty
determined the life energy
and determines who and what we are
and make much greater sums,
than we can determine
with derivatives, differentiation, limits
and pure mathematics;
or do we want to believe
that destiny
holds the clockwork for everyone
and everything responds to the things
around it
and reacts on its own
and life evolutionary ticks at its own rhythm
and nature
and every thing about us
runs down into the nothingness
into which every thing slowly disappears?
[Reference: “To whom then will you compare me, or who is my equal? Says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who created these? He who brings out their host and numbers them, calling them all by name; because he is great in strength, mighty in power, not one is missing. Why do you say, O Jacob, “My way is hidden from the Lord and my right is disregarded by my God? ” Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.” Isaiah 40: 25-26.]
poem by Gert Strydom
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Apocalypse
Volcanic aerosols tend to block the needed sunlight
And contribute to short term cooling, but it's not perfect.
Volcanoes emit carbon dioxide, which is not alright..
It's a greenhouse gas, which has a warming effect.
Moreover, its level is already more higher than usual
And it determines to increase the global temperature.
When temperatures become warmer, it's not normal,
And carbon is released from the oceans., for sure.
The volume of this gas has increased, exceeding
The thirty five percent in the last three hundred years.
This increase is due to human being induced burning
]From fossil fuels, deforestation and industry, with no fears.
Carbon dioxide is an important greenhouse gas.
The human caused an increase in its concentration
And the atmosphere has strengthened the greenhouse
Effect, contributing to global warming without salvation.
Carbon dioxide is also naturally exchanged between
The air and life through the processes of photosynthesis.
The respiration of organism and levels of ozone have been
Decreasing due to the buildup of human chlorofluorocarbons.
Scientists have noticed the development of severe large holes
In the ozone layer very dramatically and it's not very strange
That they have noticed the plate tectonics movements and volcanoes
Eruption, the carbon cycle having a major effect on the climate change.
The stages of Snowball Earth are an example of this imbalances.
The effects snowball earth is characterized by large areas of glaciation,
Were they countered when volcanic activity and tectonic forces
Allowed carbon dioxide to build up big further concentrations.
The plate tectonics, through the formation of volcanoes with their action
Works with the carbon cycle, it is the tectonic forces which release
Carbon through degassing and entrap carbon during subduction.
This relationship has occurred most in the break up and increase
The formation of continents having on climate the resulting effect.
The breakup of Pangea left many small continents so scattered
On the globe and the broken land became surrounded by suspect
Sources of moisture and carbon dioxide is taken by rainfall, so red,
Out of the air, making the erosion and weathering of continental rocks
To occur at a faster rate and this, in turn, reduces the amount of carbon
Dioxide in the atmosphere resulting in a fall of temperature, which blocks
As the temperature falls, while the glaciation occurs in the polar zone.
White ice has a high albedo and thus reflects more solar energy, it's clear,
Back into the space and this creates a positive feedback, which continues
To reduce the global temperature and as the cooling continues, the cold air
Eventually halts the further growth of glaciation, creating deserts as residues.
The air is so dry and no rainfall occurs, so the carbon dioxide as a gas gun
Is released through volcanoes and kept in high quantities in the atmosphere,
Carbon, then, accumulates and begins to trap the infrared waves of the sun
In the greenhouse effect, eventually increasing the global temperature.
As the planet grows warmer, moisture from the sea ice refreezes
At a higher elevation due to the difference in isostasy and the open water.
That is left around the equator, absorbs more solar energy and increases
The global temperature, while the large amounts of carbon alter
The atmosphere, which can combine with the water being evaporated into
The air and form carbonic acid, forming the rain, which erodes and weathers
The rock formation, this way, the bicarbonate and the other ions reach thorough
The water the ocean where they form carbonate sediment and this matters.
poem by Marieta Maglas
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At 25k Feet Above
on a bed of clouds
feet dangling into the sea
you and me
above the clouds
the horizon beckoned us
we glided in the air
bits and pieces
clouds dispersed below the sky
new horizon teased
in a wink
the clouds spread as one grey spread
we melted as rain
vapour they turned
the heat within melted
we rocked
wings cut
through layers and layers of
moving vapours
slowly descended
we from the clouds above
earth-reality!
ah, you lifted me
above earth; closer to sky
dropped me on land again!
poem by Indira Babbellapati
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You see, the Greenhouse Effect is a direct result of burning fossil or old carbon fuels.
quote by Jack Herer
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Now is The Winter With Trees Stripped Naked
Now is the winter with trees naked
when there is cold and sifting rain,
stripped bare without leaves
and then you first come past and then to me
like a sun rising over the horizon
with a yellow raincoat, your pants splashed wet, laughing and glad
and your company is full of fun
in bands of gathering fog.
Now is the winter with trees naked
cutting off every ray and light
and I know our time is only borrowed,
like a sun rising over the horizon
but stopping the rays in this winter,
in a cold world without hope or pity,
stripped bare without leaves
where you shake out your hair like a dog does with rain,
whereupon I take the clips from your hair
and I know our time is only borrowed
but your are glorious like a poster
and for long moments time is missing.
Now is the winter with trees naked
with bliss descending between us
and you are only mine, with soft lips and big eyes
whereupon I take the clips from your hair
and I see your beauty
our passion goes to practical reality,
stripped bare without leaves
we shine like the world outside in vulnerability like rainbows,
where passion sweeps us away from uncovering
and you are only mine, with soft lips and big eyes
pretty, pure and untouched
in moments of ecstasy without fatigue.
Now is the winter with trees naked
stripped bare without leaves
and I am totally lost in you.
and then you first come past and then to me,
where passion sweeps us away from uncovering
with a yellow raincoat, your pants splashed wet, laughing and glad.
poem by Gert Strydom
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Effect Is Cause
Cause and effect theory is at work,
By which one event leads to another.
Cause gives effect and effect turns a cause.
Impermanence is inevitable.
Inter-dependence is indispensable.
Suffering is due to the mistaken
Perception in the permanence of reality.
You’re not the sole cause of the outcome.
poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar
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I do not live in a world of flowers & clouds and mountains & rivers & brooks
I do not live in a world of flowers
I do not live in the world of blue clouds and green mountains and ricefields
I do not live in running rivers and stretching seas and clear brooks
Though I write about them
Though I miss the scent exuded by them in their kindness
Though I like the bees and butterflies that busy in their
Multicolored world with some rainbows and coolness
Of rain showers and warmth of sunshine so like
Paradise, so like the Eden of our ancient dreams,
But I do not live in the world of flowers
I cannot leave in the world of flowers
My land is this desert scorched by the noonday sun
My sea is this sand stretching from shore to shore
My outlook, my view is this misleading mirage
My clouds are these unresolved doubts and fears
And my air is this silence that only the dead can surmise.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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Storm In A Teacup
The sky is bright blue, but there's a big patch of grey;
I can hear thunder: there's a storm heading this way.
At present, my world is glowing with glorious sun,
But I'm not looking forward to what is to come.
The rolls of thunder are resonating quite far apart,
But hearing them, quickens the beat of my heart.
The day, so far, has been a mix of sun and of rain,
But, thankfully, the sun has prevailed, in the main.
The dark clouds overhead, are as grey as iron;
The thunder roars loudly, like a mighty lion.
I'm really hoping that there will be no lightning;
As an adult, I still find storms quite frightening.
I had been planning to take a steady stroll into town,
But, chances are, that rain will soon be falling down.
The sun continues to shine, and there's little thunder;
Should I take a gamble with the weather, I wonder?
But, I bet as soon as I put a foot out of the door,
The Heavens will open, and the rain will pour.
A short time passes; the sun slowly disappears.
Suddenly, from Heaven, there rains infinite tears.
Luckily, we are spared from a full-blown storm,
And soon the sun reappears, so nice and warm.
The thunder doesn't last long: it soon passes by,
And, I'm feeling glad I stayed at home in the dry.
poem by Angela Wybrow
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It’s pressing hot
It’s pressing hot
and the air begs for rain
and in the distance
thunder bolts lights up the horizon
while grey black clouds
are pressed together ominous.
Suddenly the first drop
hangs on your cheek
and meanders down
with some friends
and drops become
pouring rain
that falls in buckets full
and now there’s thunder
that reports everywhere around us.
Still you stand amazed
as if stuck to the spot
to catch the cool embrace
and I run
to the shed
to stay dry.
poem by Gert Strydom
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A Short Term Effect
Movement
No movement
Just a falling bird
Cold as it hits the bleeding ground
He lived and died
Catch sight
Cover me with earth
Draped in black
Static
White sound
A day without substance
A changeof thought
An atmosphere that rots with time
Colours that flicker in water
A short term effect
Scream
As she tries to push him over
Helpless and sick
With teeth of madness
Jump jump dance and sing
Sideways across the desert
A charcoal face
Bites my hand
Time is sweet
Derange and disengage everything
A day without substance
A change of thought
The atmosphere rots with time
Colours that flicker in water
A short term effect
A short term effect
A short term effect
An echo
And a stranger's hand
A short term effect
An echo
And a stranger's hand
A short term effect
song performed by by Cure
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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It Looks Like Rain
I stand at the window
Looking out, looking out at the grey
After getting up and reading the paper today
Sometimes I just want to crawl back in bed
Pull the covers over my eyes
This world is so full of trouble
All the war planes in the sky
Chorus:
And it looks like rain
Cant you hear the thunder
And it looks like rain
Dont it make you wonder
Killers make the front page
Good deeds go unnoticed
Seems like, like theres no change
No matter what the vote is
It used to be we were
All looking out for everybody else
But now it seems the only law is
Every man for himself
(chorus)
And it looks like rain
Cant you hear the thunder
It looks like rain
Dont it make you
And it looks like rain
Falling down my eyes
It looks like rain
Dont you wonder why
I hear, hear it pounding
In the courtrooms and halls
I hear, hear it sounding
Through these paper-thin walls
I can hear people lying under oath
Lovers breaking their vows
I dont want to give up hope
Is it too late now
Chorus:
And it looks like rain
Cant you hear the thunder
It looks like rain
Dont it make you
And it looks like rain
Falling down my eyes
It looks like rain
Dont you wonder why
And it looks like rain
Cant you hear the thunder
It looks like rain
Dont it make you
It looks like rain
(repeat chorus and fade)
song performed by by Toto
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Tulips
An age being mathematical, these flowers
Of linear stalks and spheroid blooms were prized
By men with wakened, speculative minds,
And when with mathematics they explored
The Macrocosm, and came at last to
The Vital Spirit of the World, and named it
Invisible Pure Fire, or, say, the Light,
The Tulips were the Light's receptacles.
The gold, the bronze, the red, the bright-swart Tulips!
No emblems they for us who no more dream
Of mathematics burgeoning to light
With Newton's prism and Spinoza's lens,
Or berkeley's ultimate, Invisible Pure Fire.
In colored state and carven brilliancy
We see them now, or, more illumined,
In sudden fieriness, as flowers fit
To go with vestments red on Pentecost.
poem by Padraic Colum
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Internal Reverie
In the darkness on a starlit night
I lay close to the shore of my memory and imagination-
Waves of anger and recollections of personal injury,
Mistrust and betrayal are flooding over me as
A tidal wave would, splashing tears of hurt and doubt
From my eyes as the moon laughs ridiculing
The fear that has me immobilized-
Starlight is dim as any hope left inside,
The light of the moon, figments of my imagination and
Feelings of rage are overwhelming me as
Rain begins to fall and as raindrops hit the ground I feel an upsurge of emotion-
I cannot control as the starlight becomes dimmer
- Inside my mind a clock is ticking rapidly-
Flight of time is terrifying as the waves of resentment
Splash upon the imaginary shore where I lie-
Lost hope and the pain of self harm induce once hidden fears to resurface-
Ships sailing in an ocean without direction, in the darkness of this starlit night
I would board a ship and search for another destination as
I ride the waves, no land in sight- Overcome by bleak darkness as the moon disappears
Behind the clouds and the rain pours down in torrents,
Blinding me- I never believed there was a god or a heaven,
I never believed in angels singing or
Patron saints that would bring me towards some sort of salvation-
Life has been a tragic musical of which I am the star-
Lost inside my own world from which I was snatched away-
I lived in a world where the sun rose in the very early morning and
People never deceived one another and starlight was bright in
The early evening, into the dawn of the next day-
Waves were gentle, washing over a shore of freedom and
Rain never fell, obliterating my horizon-
I ride my ship into the night as the stars and moon have disappeared-
Waves are closing in on me and I am searching for an island of serenity –
I hear for the first time angels singing their most heartrending melodies-
Perhaps it is only a dream- but in my mind dreams are my only reality as
I can see the stars appearing on the horizon as candles would brighten a
Home on a winter’s night, I keep on riding that ship still trying to find redemption-
Islands of expectation and trust that may appear in my wildest reverie-
In fate and luck I am a believer whether or not a God exists-therefore
Even though light may be dim, a gentle ocean breeze shall
Perhaps carry me towards that island in my fondest dream where
The sun shall appear from behind those clouds of misfortune, which shall
Become none but lost memories of the past, never to reemerge.
Claudia Krizay
poem by Claudia Krizay
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