by Robert M. Chute
The possibility, perhaps inevitability
of life came with a big bang;
the actuality of living things
after a billion years or so.
Eventually the possibility of you came
but with a somewhat smaller bang.
The probability of you as an actuality
remained quite low.
Despite the odds some self, some you came
and could be, or was, conceived.
When that was precisely
is still in contention,
depending on which conception
of conception we conceive
since life clearly is continuous.
Born near the Chute River, Naples, Maine in 1926, Robert M. Chute taught and conducted research at Middlebury College, San Fernando State (CA), and Lincoln University (PA) before returning to Maine as Chair of Biology at Bates College. Now Professor Emeritus of Biology, Bates College, Chute has a record of scientific publication in Parasitology, Hibernation Physiology, General Biology, and Environmental Studies. His poetry and collage poems appear in many journals including Ascent, Beloit Poetry Journal, BOMB, The Cape Rock, Cafe Review, The Literary Review, Texas Review. His poetry books include a three language reissue of Thirteen Moons in English, French, and Passamaquoddy (2002), and most recently, a three chapbook boxed set, Bent Offerings, from Sheltering Pines Press (2003). He is currently working on a series of poems based on reading scientific journals such as Nature and Science.