Intelligent Accidents Poem by David Floren

That idea is so
Promethean: grace becomes
Immorality.

We ought to help those
Intelligent designers
Reach the conclusion

They never seem to reach:
Happy to stop when the nice
Bearded man appears.

Experiments all.
We're accidents. Quick
To take danger slow.

Cleverness played
A small but crucial role in
How we tamed the fire.

Most think accidents
Involve fault and require
A strong punishment.

Accidents speak to
Our responsibility.
Break it, you fix it.

That's why we couldn't
Be accidents, they argue:
No mistake, no sin!

Why would we be here
Getting punished for our sins
Without Creator:

The nice bearded man
(Who is really not so nice)
Is a nice idea.

Born with fertile minds,
We fertilize our notions.
And we're dust from space!

The force that creates
'The good' by accident? I
Give this a name: 'grace.'


[10/13/05 Berkeley, CA – Originally composed on Craigslist poetry discussion page under handle Pericles]