Editorial - Rhythms

Hello Dear Reader, and welcome to Issue 5 of Consilience.

In this issue we explore the concept of ‘rhythms’ – those patterns of movement, sound, light, or chance that give structure to the elemental chaos within which we flutter.  

Throughout science, rhythms are ubiquitous, from the sanctity of life presented on a pixelated ECG to the movements of celestial bodies that humble us with their immensity. Many scientists have devoted their lives to understanding rhythms, both seen and unseen, the underlying causes of their designs, and the outcomes which they might infer. 

Poetry too is defined by rhythm. Indeed, the Oxford English Dictionary describes poetry as a “literary work in which the expression of feelings and ideas is given intensity by the use of distinctive style and rhythm.” We (should) all know that poems don’t have to rhyme, but they have to have rhythm – no matter how this might be represented. 

Scientific research has recently shown that rhythm is likely hardwired into humans, highlighting that there are certain elements that transcend cultural and societal boundaries, and are instead universal to our very existence. As the celebrated American poet Robert Creeley observed in his poem ‘The Rhythm’:

It is all a rhythm,
from the shutting
door, to the window,
opening

Sharing our rhythms, and our observations on rhythms, thus presents us with an opportunity to share lifeworlds, participate in other’s lived-experiences, and potentially re-connect us across patterns whose interrelatedness has been forgotten. We hope that the rhythms presented in this issue afford you the opportunity to seek out new arrangements and revisit old ones through re-tuned senses. 

Thank you to all of the amazing poets who submitted their words, to the reviewers and editors who helped shape the cadence of this issue, and to the artists whose multidisciplinary work has helped to set the beat that lies within.

The Consilience Team