February 12, 2021
On 02-12-1809, a day both cold and gray,
Charles Darwin left his mother’s womb; today is his birthday.
And when he left his earthly life, his great discovery
Of evolution revolutionized biology.
He argued all life speciated through a simple scheme
Of variation, then selection: evolution’s theme.
A random process did it all; no “unseen hand” to prod.
The “unseen hand” interpreted by most of us as God.
First variation, then selection, finding the most fit,
The randomness implied still gives most clergymen a fit.
Through natural selection, all the species here on Earth,
Including man, evolved, so were we not of special worth?
Since 1859, all evidence proved Darwin’s case.
The evidence has shown a new reality to face.
We humans are just part of life, in all its majesty,
Related to all other forms, just one variety.