1877 Canals on Mars

Canals on Mars

• The Italian astronomer
• Giovanni Virinio Schiaparelli,
• director of the observatory at Brera,
• charted the surface of Mars
• and described it as being criss-crossed
• with channels. Unfortunately,
• the Italian word for channels
• is canali, mistranslated canals,
• and everybody knows
• canals are built
• to move water
• to support agriculture
• to feed people in cities.
• From a long distance, lines seen
• while straining at Mars
• through wavering skies
• and murky lenses
• convince the eye
• there’s a pattern and a purpose.
• It is easier to believe than to doubt.
• Even the willing suspension of disbelief
• is an easy trick for creatures
• who fall in love
• who survive hurricanes and pogroms
• who have their own prejudices and self-interests
• and for whom thoughts of little red Martians
• is entertaining or comforting.
• Normally, the mind sees only what it wants.
• Belief in the unsupportable
• is the definition of belief.
• It is banal to point out
• that many are sadly mistaken,
• even people with good intentions.
• When the unpredictable cannot be avoided
• the shock can damage the mind.
• After the trauma subsides
• scar tissue can diminish
• the flexibility that helps the mind work.
• The work of the mind
• is to make the subtle shifts in color and shading
• cohere into pleasures or threats.
• Canals on Mars are far enough away
• not to threaten
• but only tease.
• Maybe this explains everything.