"What's the more important question, merely to discover what is, or to explore what could be and what it all means?."

By discovering what it is, you open the door to endless possibilities of what could be and what it all means. In my opinion science and art (by that I mean 'the arts', all-inclusive) are the human races greatest achievements, and within those two areas of endeavour, amongst the multitude of scientific and artistic disciplines is a vast, clear space of dreaming and wonder, imagination and creativity, insight and knowledge.

"What about a leaf, with all its intricacies? Is it suitable merely for laboratory exploration and definition, or might it also open up vast possibilities for poetic (or mystical) musings?"

It's suitable for both, and each way of looking at it informs the other, illuminates some small part or detail or meaning . . . or reveals the complexity and beauty of the subject and also demands attention to the interconnectedness of the leaf . . .

How can we define this leaf? Well, we have a myriad of ways . . .

Like this?

. . .or this?

Or this from the modern bard that is Ted Hughes:

FERN

Here is the fern's frond, unfurling a gesture,
Like a conductor whose music will now be pause
And the one note of silence
To which the whole earth dances gravely –

A dancer, leftover, among crumbs and remains
Of God's drunken supper,
Dancing to start things up again.
And they do start up – to the one note of silence.

The mouse's ear unfurls its trust.
The spider takes up her bequest.
And the retina
Reins the Creation with a bridle of water.

How many went under? Everything up to this point went under.
Now they start up again
Dancing gravely, like the plume
Of a warrior returning, under the low hills,

Into his own kingdom.


Wonder and awe can be found in a blade of grass, a puddle on a street or the sound of laughter. But the more you know, the more you can understand and the more you can marvel at the wonder of it all.