Reaction-Diffusion*
Alan Turing took Blake seriously,
sought the hand, the eye
that framed big cat symmetry,
found the fearful parallels
in the biochemistry of this earth.
Stripes once horizontal, the claim,
alerted prey to her presence
in the backdrop of vertical rays,
double-cross of trees,
the semaphore sway of high grasses.
Nothing immortal left to name,
the spine a stalking horizon—
cells then over-react, diffusion to train
the cat to adapt; coat lines to plumb;
for her to regain the hand.
Burn bright then, Tyger, etched
anew, your latest shade extant;
don't mind the dull who strive
to scrub the proud, the eminent,
from old homes—we'll act again,
by design we quicken,
and once more rule the land.
*reaction diffusion: a complex chemical process that, when applied to evolutionary biology, suggests changes over time in pattern formation in organisms
19 Comments
17 more comments...No posts
I didn’t expect Blake this morning. He can come for coffee anytime though. Thanks
An Ode to Evolution. extinct vs extant. What aspect of this did Alan Turing take interest in? Thanks