1. A Back and Forth
My dear Darwin I’m writing this for your cause
by showing similar anatomy
your years of work I gladly give applause
strong observations of reality
your disciplined science gives me much pause
enlightening a path to God’s beauty
to take a stand and witness what you’ve said
for you Darwin your text should be well read.
My dear Huxley I accept your support
I am feeling rather weary today
I watch my daughter build herself a fort
my study overlooking where they play.
My work has made it to the highest court
within the text lies what I have to say
this business fills me with anxiety
with regards to my Christianity.
2. The Argument
For both of us embedded in the Church
this argument has started quit a stir
there’s validity in your research
your silent observations truthful, pure,
so many questions answered by your search
I will share the content not the author.
For text like yours are rare and hard to find.
these studies from a scientific mind.
I only shared the lists that I observed
with effort left out all opinions
I only tried to keep the facts preserved
this publication my only action
I pray that God sees who I truly served
I never meant to argue creation
I want a humble life with family
and pews on Sunday where I take a knee.
3. The Text Is Public Now
I sat with Bishops of the Church to hear
their arguments are weak and have no point
the fact that people read your text brings fear
I wish they had a stronger counter point
a revolutionary change is near
your facts can change the popular viewpoint
I carry words to fight this fear of change
a breath to new scientific exchange.
The text is public now and yours to read
but I am backing quietly away
to stay away from public eye I plead
in country home next to a fire I’ll stay
to observe local flora and their seed
examine field mice migration and play.
I’ve offered my apologies to date,
so please, your dramas are yours to create.
3. To Study and Observe
I’ve worked upon our muscles and bones
examined how our vasculature works
when overlooking clergy and their moans
many connections within your text lurk
the details of eyes, their rods and their cones,
comparisons bubble up from the murk.
A birth, comparative anatomy,
a new fresh look at life on a Sunday.
To study and observe the facts of life
a dedication to a loving God
to scientific thought and loving wife
and loving children I have spare the rod
no longer set to sail the sea in strife
to find an island full of untouched sod,
for now I spend my time editing text
to change for others unwanted subtext.
Dear Darwin, though my letters have been sparse
I keep fighting for freedom through the facts
to ignore self righteous and their light farce
that ignores texts readers and these impacts
on world thought they misjudge the simple force
of our disciplined scientific acts
they cannot except our part in this world
or how human connections have unfurled.
© 2019 Jamie Lee Hamann