POEM - Rooted In Wonder

Not in the brittle certainty of stone,

Nor in the rigid scaffold, cold and known,

But deep within the loam where questions sprout,

And fragile tendrils of perception doubt

The hardened crust of what we think we own –

There lies the source where living truth is grown:

Rooted in Wonder, where the world takes hold,

A story far more precious than pure gold.

Before the names were etched, the boundaries drawn,

Before the measured light of science dawned,

A child knelt low upon the sun-warmed ground,

Where small, determined shoots were breaking bound

Through dark, damp earth, a miracle profound.

A beetle, armoured, jewel-like and round,

Traversed a universe of moss and grain –

A silent, slow, determined, crawling train.

The dandelion’s clock, a fragile sphere,

Held whispered promises upon the air.

No "why?" articulated, sharp and clear,

Just wide-eyed witnessing, profound and sheer –

The primal state from which all seeking springs,

Where wonder tunes the heart’s receptive strings.

This root descends, not shallow, weak, or slight,

But anchors reason in a deeper light.

It drives the scholar, head bent low and keen,

To split the atom, chart the gene’s unseen

Intricate dance. It fuels the artist’s hand

That strives to capture what can’t understand

The sunset’s blaze, the sorrow in a face,

The silent grace of interstellar space.

It is the geologist who reads the stone,

A billion years in stratified bone

And crystal locked; the doctor who perceives,

Beyond the chart, the tremor that deceives,

The fragile pulse of life beneath the skin –

A constant search for what lies deep within.

The engineer, whose mind constructs the span,

First marvels at the spider’s patient plan.

True understanding, potent and refined,

Blossoms where wonder nurtures the keen mind.

See how the ancient oak, with gnarled embrace,

Stands witness to the swift, relentless race

Of seasons turning? Patient, deep, and slow,

Its roots drink secrets only dark earths know.

It does not fret the storm’s tempestuous cry,

Nor question why the swift-winged swallows fly

To warmer climes. It simply is, and grows,

Through summer’s heat and winter’s chilling snows.

Its rings record the years in silent grace,

A testament held firmly in one place.

This rooted stillness, this accepting gaze,

Reflects a wonder spanning all our days –

A recognition of the grand design

That pulses through the rooted oak and pine,

The tangled vine, the moss upon the wall,

The patient fungi, networking it all.

To stand in stillness, feel the earth’s slow breath,

Is to defy the frantic fear of death,

To touch the source, the ever-present core,

Where wonder whispers, "Look, and ask for more."

And when we lift our eyes beyond the tree,

Beyond the mountain’s stark immensity,

To where the stars, like scattered diamond dust,

Ignite the void in promises of trust

Across the light-years’ vast, unmeasured span –

We feel the pull, the universal plan.

We trace the constellations, ancient signs,

Imagining the light on distant pines

On worlds unknown. The cosmic ocean’s roar,

A silent hum beyond an unseen shore,

Reminds us we are stardust, forged in fires

Of ancient suns fulfilling deep desires.

This cosmic perspective, humbling and grand,

Expands the compass of the wonder-land

Within our souls. Our roots, though earthly bound,

Reach out to touch the silence all around,

Connecting particle to galaxy,

A fragile, conscious strand in mystery.

So let us tend this root with conscious care,

This vital force beyond compare.

Resist the rush that numbs the seeking eye,

The cynic’s shrug, the weary, heavy sigh.

Pause. Feel the breeze that stirs the aspen’s leaves.

Watch how the patient spider deftly weaves.

Question the ordinary, seek the strange,

Embrace the constant possibility of change.

For in the fertile soil of "I don’t know,"

The richest understanding starts to grow.

Rooted in Wonder – this is where we start,

The compass needle for the seeking heart.

It fuels the quest, dispels the creeping blight

Of jaded certainty and borrowed light.

Hold fast this root, this anchor deep and true,

And see the world forever born anew.

Short Summary:

"Rooted in Wonder" explores the profound significance of awe and curiosity as the essential foundation for a meaningful existence. The poem argues that true understanding, creativity, and resilience stem not from rigid certainty, but from a deep-seated sense of wonder – akin to a child's unguarded fascination with the natural world. This wonder drives scientific inquiry, artistic expression, and philosophical contemplation, connecting humanity to the intricate beauty of nature (symbolized by the patient oak) and the vast mystery of the cosmos. Ultimately, the poem urges the conscious cultivation of wonder as an anchor against cynicism and haste, a vital root that allows us to continually perceive the world with fresh eyes, embrace the unknown, and fuel our perpetual quest for understanding. It is the wellspring of life, growth, and authentic connection.