> I was first struck by this problem at the age of 10. I became
> unreasonably depressed when I read that in x million years the sun is
> going to finish its own life, taking the entire solar system with it.
Latest one I've seen is that in 3 billion years time the neighbouring galaxy
Andromeda is going to collide/merge with ours and in the resulting cosmic
frenzy the earth has the option of either being stripped of its atmosphere
and cindered or, if we're lucky, just flung out its orbit and the solar
system altogether.
So I've put a note in my diary: Remember to post early for Christmas.
db
----- Original Message -----
From: <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, December 01, 2000 3:19 AM
Subject: Re: asteroid to hit earth
> >So my question is this: Given the overwhelming fact of an eventual,
> >sudden, and irreversible asteroidal extinction, what is the purpose
> >or worth of poetry, "avant-garde" or otherwise? I mean, there will be no
> >smell of mimeo ink or memory of it after the big one hits. Language
poetry,
> >its precursors and fellow travellers, along with all its contraries, will
be
> >blown to smithereens. The Gig and APR. What makes us talk of evanescent
> >words and letters in the face of potential nothingness? Or would this,
> >rather, be provocation and reason for mimeo and its strange smelles?
>
> I was first struck by this problem at the age of 10. I became
> unreasonably depressed when I read that in x million years the sun is
> going to finish its own life, taking the entire solar system with it.
> Mind you, the asteroid could hit tomorrow - but it may not... and then
> you could just get run over by a bus.
>
> Really, in the face of all that it scarcely seems worth doing anything at
> all. Of course, this is the first reason to write poetry.
>
> Best
>
> A
>
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