It was natural selection taught the skylark how to sing
And survival of the fittest means they do it on the wing
Competition for a food source or for mates who want the best
Are the spurs for evolution to find those that pass the test
Even tiny little changes can be massive over time
And advantages they foster may be monstrous or sublime
In the aeons of existence they may alter every part
And they're even at the bottom of these feelings in my heart
DNA's a double helix that is carrying the code
That can specify the proteins that will start you on the road
You get some parts from your mother and get others from your dad
And your nose is like your uncles and those ears are really bad
But the recipe is simple all it needs is time to act
Nothing magical about it though there's beauty in the fact
All you need is evolution and you'll find that life will thrive
So give thanks to mother nature for the reason you're alive
In a list
Please tell me honestly what you think, good or bad.
Comments
1 - 10 of 10
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An excellent pen! Just one disagreement from an old crone - nature is awesomely magical.
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I do wish people would find another phrase for survival of the fittest. It has all the wrong connotations, when what is actually mean is the survival of the most fitted to survive, which, in some cases, could mean the smallest, the best at hiding, the best at running away, those who bend with the wind rather than resisting it. Evolution is such an elegant theory, even though it can't answer every question (including the ones we don't have the wit to ask yet) - and this poem just goes to reinforce what I keep telling you to do with your talents.
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Of course at the time he used the phrase there was no confusion, and here I am stuck with it because it is almost synonymous with the idea. But I agree with you, a more 21st century phrase with the same ring would be helpful.
There is nothing "fit" in the modern sense about a bird of paradise carrying a tail that is within half an inch of being too long to let him fly.
Evolution can only answer questions about self replicating systems
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... and even those a wee bit shakily.
Did the man himself ever use the phrase, or was it not rather one hung round his neck later, like an albatross?
(Oh, and you don't know the use of a bird-of-paradise tail unless you can canvass the opinion of hens-of-paradise. Even you aren't that clever.) -
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Actually I do ...
Because some very clever men did a hexperryment. They took members of a particular BoP species, and "grafted" extra lengths into the tails of some left some alone and the he legths of extra tail had been taken from a third set so they had shorter tails.
They then left these BoPs to their displaying, whic all did normally and all the hens queued up for the ones with extra tail length despite them being almost unable to fly.
It has since been repeated with other species. It does not however work with Peacocks, peahens appear much less fussy Peacock tails seem to be designe to impress other cocks.
(and be honest, you knew I'd know something that obscure!!!
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You bloody clever-clogs!
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That's me
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I believe it was first used by Herbert Spencer who was a contemporary biologist and Darwinian supporter, Darwin used it in a revised edition of "The Origin".
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I thought something like that was the case.
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What a great write! I love it!
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