John Anderson Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

"Life therefore appears to be a revolt against the rules of Nature. Life is a paradox …. The most basic rule of inanimate nature is that it tends toward equilibrium which is at the maximum of entropy (i.e. disorder) and the minimum of free energy. Life goes against this trend …..the main characteristic of life is that it tends to decrease its entropy. (builds and maintains structure and order). Life also tends to increase its free energy. Maximum entropy means complete randomness, disorder. Life is made possible by order structure, a pattern, which is the opposite of entropy. This pattern is our chief possession, it was developed over billions of years. The main aim of our individual existence is its conservation and transmission.” WHAT IS LIFE? by Erwin Shrödinger First published in 1944.

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Degradation

Life revolts against 
the fundamental law of Nature
for all things to inevitably degrade
to maximum disorder, entropy
with minimum free energy.

Life builds structure and order
against the trend
and needs to capture 
and burn energy continually
to maintain its form and existence
against the ravages
of entropy and decay.

To survive living things must
conserve themselves, 
transmit their seed 
to new generations
and develop more successful
forms in a continuum.

Once the chain of transmission
is broken, the life form
degrades to dust,
and ceases to exist, 
a dangling, fleeting species gone forever.

Life is an enigma, a peculiar chemistry,
a rebel against the laws of nature
fighting for the survival of its disparity
to avoid its inevitable degradation,
for now.

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Christuraj Alex October 9, 2021 at 10:15 PM Great writing. Many points for reflection. Congratulations! John Anderson October 13, 2021 at 11:43 AM Thanks for you kind words. Cheers

Jenna Logan October 9, 2021 at 9:44 AM Congratulations on your winning write, John. John Anderson October 9, 2021 at 2:50 PM Thanks very much, Best Wishes

Edward Ibeh October 9, 2021 at 8:53 AM Congratulations on your win in my contest with this awesome poem, John:-) Peace and love. John Anderson October 9, 2021 at 2:50 PM WOW, thanks

Joseph P. DiMino September 19, 2021 at 4:28 PM Well written; excellent write! Of course, if one adds into the mix, the notion that, life is illusion of consciousness, and intelligent, eternal spirit is behind physical manifestation...then much more we are able to understand, and logically explain. Joseph P. DiMino September 19, 2021 at 5:31 PM Well, as a realist then...how can something be opposed to Nature when obviously in it, and therefore part of it? Just asking. John Anderson September 19, 2021 at 5:17 PM Thanks for your comment. I am a realist and your logic is beyond me. Cheers