Chaos Theory

Lynne Goldsmith

They say a butterfly can change the world.

In a nonlinear system, mere flapping
can create a critical point for singularity
of change beyond the edge of chaos.

In phase space, nothing stays the same,
no two maps are alike, as in weather
where nothing makes for repetition —

only patterns of wanting to follow
what’s known as strange attractor,
a favored state with fractal properties
as in snowflakes with self-similarity.

Adding to the mix are emergence,
swarm behavior, engineered chaos —

constructed maneuvers for taking control
but still all leading to more change
in a world of dominating non-predictions

within a view of chance, that when looked at
closely make fractal kaleidoscopic patterns.

The Science

Emergence is a system created from the actions of individual parts that are supposedly lacking any central plan. Edward Lorenz, meteorologist, professor and mathematician, discovered that seemingly insignificant motions/change can activate huge outcomes. His ‘butterfly effect’ (with the flap of a butterfly wing later causing a tornado in a distant location) illustrates the notion of chaos theory with future predictions being practically impossible and chaotic systems being non-linear, such as seen in the weather where no two weather days or snowflake designs are ever quite replicated. Yet hidden within the chaos that is everywhere, surprising patterns are found.

The Poet

Lynne is an award-winning poet and children’s picture book author. Her first poetry collection garnered seven honours. She has upcoming poems in E-The Environmental Magazine, Interalia Magazine, Quillkeepers Press nature poetry anthology, Siamb!, and Tiny Seed Literary Journal. Find out more at www.lynneagoldsmith.

Next poem: Confusion resolved by Monsurat O. Oloyede