Uncountable stars
Spin through immeasurable night,
Perishing before
We are able to glimpse their light.
A cosmic graveyard
Envelops the earth in its maw—
Insatiable—
Subject to unknowable law.
Vastness eternal
Muddles the mind to contemplate;
Endless nothingness
Multiplies while lying in wait.
Afterlife notions
Seem like a convenient relief,
While the truth scares us
Beyond an existence so brief.
Overwhelming fear
Of the extinguishment of thought
Ravages logic
And brings all our efforts to naught.
~*~
"Apeirophobia is the intense, irrational fear of infinity, eternity, or endlessness, often rooted in existential dread regarding death or the vastness of time. It commonly manifests in adolescents and may cause anxiety, panic attacks, and feelings of derealization." ~ AI Overview
Written for Mathematical Space at Mindlovemisery's Menagerie. I meant to write about math, but this phobia poem took over my brain. Sorry about that, Jim!
A lovely poem, Paul. Long time, no see. Taking supplements like magnesium, L-theanine, Ashwagandha, and Inositol, may help manage Apeirophobia. The Greek philosopher Zeno wrote a story called Achilles and the Tortoise which created an infinity paradox. He said that the fast runner (Achilles) could never overtake a slower opponent (the tortoise) given a head start. This occurs because Achilles must first reach the tortoise’s previous position, but by then, the tortoise has moved ahead, creating an infinite series of smaller, uncrossable distances.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jim!
ReplyDeleteI learnt a new word today. However, I am the opposite - fascinated by infinity.
ReplyDelete