Peer review poetry

Since the beginning of scientific discovery, poets have written about science; while scientists have written poetry. In Peer review poetry, Dan Simpson represents the former and Dr Sam Illingworth scientists. Together, they consider the artistic value and scientific integrity of the two worlds and how they interact...

From Sam, the scientist:

When we seek and observe nature’s beauty

There is one question that always stands out:

For is science exceeding its duty,

Or is it poems that we can do without?

Keats and Poe thought that science was ugly,

And that it stole from us nature’s intent;

Feynman wondered why the poets smugly

Did make their claims based on some false descent.

Are both fields yet aware of their defects?

As with their words they try trap nature’s soul

For its beauty is one of their objects

That alone they cannot hope capture whole.

To find out why their fighting is absurd,

Come see us on October twenty-third.

By Sam Illingworth, Manchester Metropolitan University

From Dan, the poet:

Heavy elements

constitute art and science:

common gravity. 

Poems are guesswork

intuitive estimates

sometimes revealing. 

Science is precise

accurate observations

sometimes beautiful. 

Poetry creates

our world as we perceive it

science understands.

Immortal poet!

not immortal after all:

universe heat death.

Show numbers and words

to describe our Universe

shine light on the truth.

Waves or particles?

Artist or scientist? We’re

gloriously both.

By Dan Simpson, poet