As a noumenal¹ frame for material supplied by sense.
If Space is a category, Eternity has an inner reference.
‘Conception,’ grazing flew the chalk to tell,
‘Founded upon time your entrance!
DNA shot home and built you cell by cell,
You bear the will of circumstance!’
What seeker dare in the broadening glare to ponder
‘Why am I here?’, lost in the gulf of wonder?
Next lesson was First Form Biology. I heard a child
Ask, ‘What makes tears?’
‘Table salt and bicarb,’ the teacher smiled,
‘From eyelids’ cleaning weirs:-
Well done, my class, you’ve begun Physiology now,
When, dissecting in the name of science, you bury the bow-wow!’
The class, all flinching from his chill, imagined end,
Asked, ‘Where’s Jesse now?’
‘In the nitrogen cycle: the secrecy of worms he kenned
Which work to disendow.’
But one, less at home in the tragic loam, said
‘He’s returned to heaven, from where he sprang, garlanded!’
But the teacher did not hold back, or show respect:
‘Prove it!’ he yelled triumphant.
‘You all must wash your hands, lest the dog infect...’
‘Our hands are clean and gallant!’
‘Oh, are they? Pass this lens and class shall see...’
‘No need,’ said they, beyond reach of reason, ‘We’re lazy!’