Sir Isaac Newton’s First Law of Motion
- Sir Isaac Newton’s First Law of Motion
Objects in motion will remain in motion unlessacted upon by an outside force. Objectsat rest will remain at rest unless acted uponby an outside force. Matthew Olzmannis an object at rest, and will remain at rest,reclining on the couch while drinking Guinnessand watching football. Or, he is an object at rest,and will remain at rest, sprawled over the couchwhile drinking Guinness and watching hockey.Or, he could be merely napping on the couch,having already finished a Guinness,and though the TV is on, he’s not watching,because it’s three in the afternoon and there’s nothingto watch. Where does Matthew Olzmann gowhen he shuts his lovely eyes and dreamshis lovely dreams about drinking Guinnesswhile hunting saber-toothed tigers? Obviously,he goes nowhere. Let me say this again. The manis an object at rest, a legendary object at rest,and will remain at rest unless acted uponby his wife, who comes home shortlyand will remind him to take out the garbageor go to the grocery store. Matthew Olzmannwould have performed these duties by now,but it’s hard to rise from this couch,impossible actually, if one believes in physics.Matthew Olzmann believes in physics.Let no one say he did not believe.
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Matthew Olzmann’s first book of poems, Mezzanines, received the 2011 Kundiman Prize (Alice James Books). He is a Visiting Professor of Creative Writing in the undergraduate writing program at Warren Wilson College.
