Schrödinger's Ghazal

Russell Nichols

CN: death

This poem exists somewhere in-between.
Not alive, not dead, but there in-between.

Its fate unknown till observed by bare eyes
with uncertain words unshared in-between.

Statements of duality—life and death
sentences suspended in prayer. In-between

couplets conceived in surreality:
characters longing for air in between

each radif—each refrain—each potential
ending that remains ensnared in-between.

Will these fragments, if left unread, collapse?
As yet: stagnant, unaware, in-between.

The lines of this poem crawl in a space
of quantum hope or despair, in between

states—their fate determined by you, dear
reader, a burden to bear in-between.

The Science

This poem draws inspiration from Erwin Schrödinger's thought experiment, where a cat in a sealed box is simultaneously alive and dead until observed. This scenario was meant to illustrate the paradoxes of applying quantum principles to the macroscopic world. But the concept of superposition - where particles exist in multiple states until observed - remains fundamental in quantum mechanics.

The poem reflects this indeterminacy, with its lines suspended ‘in-between’ existence and non-existence. Just as quantum states collapse into definite outcomes when observed, the poem’s potential is realised only when read. This aligns with the theme of consciousness by demonstrating how perception and interpretation shape reality.

The Poet

Russell Nichols is a speculative fiction writer and endangered journalist. Raised in Richmond, California, he got rid of all his stuff in 2011 to live out of a backpack with his wife, vagabonding around the world ever since. Look for him at russellnichols.com.

Next poem: Space by Cristabelle Garcia