CONSCIOUSNESS

     The mystery of consciousness confounds
     Both scientists and mystics who debate
     Its origin and scope.  The one propounds
     That over eons it arose quite late
     In cosmic history, and only here
     On Earth, for all we know; the mystic, though,
     Maintains that consciousness was always here
     And everywhere, the source of the whole show:
     The Mind of God, cosmic intelligence,
     Gives rise to all the living universe,
     A subtle web connecting sparse and dense,
     Both near and far, for better and for worse.
          This latter story has widespread appeal,
          Despite suspicion it may not be real.

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