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We have calcium in our bones, iron in our veins, carbon in our souls, and nitrogen in our brains. 93 percent stardust, with souls made of flames,
by steam_raven 4y ago
We have calcium in our bones,
iron in our veins,
carbon in our souls,
and nitrogen in our brains.
93 percent stardust,
with souls made of flames,
we are all just stars
that have people names"
Nikita Gill
- fknorangesite 4y agoOh wait I can play this game: You and I are complicated but we're made of elements Like a box of paints that are mixed to make every shade They either combine to make a chemical compound or stand alone as they are - They Might Be Giants
- gretch 4y agoI understand this is a poem that is focused on artistic expression and not scientific accuracy, but I find the line about “carbon in our souls” to be out of place. I guess the rest of the poem is incidentally correct (when not abstract)
- ok_dad 4y agoOne who is a materialist could argue that your "soul" comes from the stuff you're made out of, so your "soul" probably has carbon it somewhere.
- dr_dshiv 4y agoSure, the word “soul” comes from the proto Germanic “saiwiz” (for sea or ocean). But not because “you are like a drop in the ocean,” but because “you are like an ocean in a drop.” The idea of soul can be objectionable when it is based on an immortal being or on a vitalist life-force (like “anima” of the Latin). But it seems fine when it is based on the psyche (like the “Psuche” of the Greek). I embrace taboo words like soul because they 1. are common 2. are useful for referring to things that seem pretty important (like avoiding soulless companies or products or buildings) and 3. are challenging to my normal (scientific) understanding of the world. Still, I’d be more comfortable if the poem referred to the “carbon of our souls” rather than “carbon in our souls.” Hmm…
- guelo 4y agoYou could define soul as the fuel engine for life, which is basically burning carbon. As long as that furnace is functioning you're alive == you have a soul.
- alchemyromcom 4y ago>Carbon in our souls I think it might be an allusion to alchemy. Basically, the alchemists believed that ash (what was left after burning something) was the soul of all things...And-- this is where my complete lack of understanding about science shows-- I'm pretty sure Ash has lots of carbon? It's, you know, poetic. Many have claimed that poems are the "language of paradox" so it's okay for it to be a little non-literal. My interpretation of it, though, is that the soul is something impure that you must burn away, or maybe that the soul is polluted by our own words and behavior. It's definitely not meant to be scientifically accurate.
- kragen 4y agoash has no carbon carbon's oxides are all gaseous at standard temperature and pressure
- lliamander 4y agoNot quite. Plenty of carbon is release as carbon oxides, but calcium carbonate is also a major component of ash (or at least wood ash).
- kragen 4y agogood point little carbon, then, not none
- elihu 4y agoGoing by what wikipedia says, wood ash can have carbon. If I understand correctly, how much depends largely on how hot it burned. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_ash#Elemental_analysis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_ash#Elemental_analysis
- tomdekan 4y agoI find this poem inaccurate.
- andrepd 4y ago?
- fnordpiglet 4y agoSouls are clearly not made of both carbon and flames.
- moloch-hai 4y agoThe ones in Hell could be.
- hgsgm 4y agoWas that originally in a different language? "Heart" makes more sense than "soul", and could be translates loosely.