Science and Dreamer

Humanity awoke
To find itself in a cabin, in the woods.

And Fear cried out:
“What shall we do? How shall we live?”
And Science stepped forth and said:
“I shall lead you.”

And Science turned to Industry and said:
“See you the wood
That surrounds this cabin?
Hew you of it
That we may have fuel for our fire
And wood with which to build.
And see you that glimmer
Down through the trees?
There lies a river.
Cut you a path to that river
That we may have water to drink
And fish to eat."

And it was done
And it was good
And time went by

Then one day Dreamer stepped forth
and said:
“But what of the forest?”
And Science smiled and said:
“What of it?
Do we not see it around us every day?
Do we not cut of it for our use?
We know all there is to know
Of the forest.
There is no mystery there.
Think you on the wonder of the river.”

And Dreamer fell silent.
And time went by

Then one day Dreamer was gone
And he was gone for many days
And when he returned
He had a wild look in his eyes
And he said:
“I have been deep into the forest
And oh such wonders I have seen!”
And Science scoffed and said:
“The forest has made you mad!
We know all there is to know
Of the forest,
There is no wonder there.
Think you on the wonder of the river
Which ever flowing
Brings us the stuff of life
And whispers of the mysteries
Of time and space!”

And Dreamer fell silent.
And time went by

Then one day yet again
Dreamer stepped forth and said:
“But what of the mountain?”
And Science smiled and said:
“What of it?
Do we not see it plainly
When the sun is high
And the sky is clear?
We know all there is to know
Of the mountain,
There is no mystery there.
Think you on the wonder of the river.”

And Dreamer fell silent.
And time went by

Then one day yet again
Dreamer was gone
And he was gone for many days
And when he returned
He had a wild look in his eyes
And he said:
“I have been to the top of the mountain
And oh such wonders I have seen!”
And Science scoffed and said:
“The mountain has made you mad!
We know all there is to know
Of the mountain,
There is no wonder there.
Think you on the wonder of the river,
For one day we will build ships
And travel  on the river to other lands
And then…
Oh such wonders you will see!”

And Dreamer fell silent.
And time went by

Then one day yet again
Dreamer stepped forth, and said:
“But what of the earth?”
And Science smiled and said:
“What of it?
Do we not stand on it every day?
Do we not plant in it to grow our food
And dig in it to bury our dead?
We know all there is to know
Of the earth,
There is no mystery there.
Think you on the wonder of the river.”

And Dreamer fell silent.
And time went by

Then one day yet again
Dreamer was gone
And he was gone for many days
And when he returned
He had a wild look in his eyes
And he said:
“At the foot of the mountain
There are caves
And I have delved deep into those caves
And oh such wonders I have seen!”
And Science scoffed and said:
“Caves? Caves?
There are no such things as caves,
For if there were
Would we not know of them?
The forest and the mountain
Have driven you completely insane.
Look how your words
Infect the children!
You are a danger and should be cast out!”

Then it was that Wisdom,
Who had not spoken before
Stepped forth, and she said:
“Dreamer shall not be cast out.”
And the rest of humanity agreed,
For, in the end, he told better stories.

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