‘The Cabin of Deep Oceanograhy’: Part 2 of ‘The Cosmic Labyrinth’

In the last forty-eight hours, our collective attention has been steered to the wonders of the deep. Here again, courtesy of the 'RRS James Cook’ and its multi-talented crew we are introduced to mysteries that could scarce be dreamed of, except perhaps in the minds of oceanographers, marine biologists, deep sea geologists and science fiction writers. And if we pause to think on these wonders, we are, perhaps drawn to ask the questions ‘Why?’ as well as ‘How?'

This continuation of ‘The Cosmic Labyrinth’ celebrates in a very small way, these new discoveries in the Caribbean depths.

The posting starts with a change in the labyrinth’s path and moves into the ocean as a prelude to that celebration. The first part of the poem which will grow further over the next few weeks can be found Part 1 below, together with this second section.

What change! The path now drifts

as a deep, slow river

and I am rafted in the current’s flow.

The banks coruscate with blue and purple flora.

Here, more a refuge

than many to which I might, on this itinerary, go.

As I meander on, midst shameful plastic dross galore,

I reach at last the mysterious ocean’s waste-strewn shore.

The Cabin of Deep Oceanography

A plunge of unfathomable depth

and discomforting rapidity;

darkness and dense suspensions denying sight.

Scarce energy is spent

to probe for unknown wonders,

strange eyeless creatures, disorienting contours,

uncanny, boiling vents

veiled utterly from e’en the faintest glimpse of light.

And midst the bleak, sub-zero, barren blackness

is life unfathomable to our reason’s bounds

where energy derives from startling sources

miles, miles beneath the surface where the ocean pounds

Other poems, meditations and songs with a SCIENCE & FAITH theme can be accessed HERE