What is that I don't get about this poem? A biology lesson with words like "immortality" and "joy" sprinkled through it. Eric, can you clue me in? ----- Original Message ----- From: joerg benesch To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: 4/16/2006 6:08:32 AM Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Muriel Sparks dies Here's your poem: The Conjugation of the Paramecium by Muriel Rukeyser This has nothing to do with propagating The species is continued as so many are (among the smaller creatures) by fission (and this species is very small next in order to the amoeba, the beginning one) The paramecium achieves, then, immortality by dividing But when the paramecium desires renewal strength another joy this is what the paramecium does: The paramecium lies down beside another paramecium Slowly inexplicably the exchange takes place in which some bits of the nucleus of each are exchanged for some bits of the nucleus of the other This is called the conjugation of the paramecium. (from http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15667 ) from a more objective point of view, this should cover the subject; plus, there's also some rudimental speculation about the paremecial desires. Few people would miss anything. google is great. merry easter Joerg Former Westphalian, now Suebian Illiterate