Abstract

Verse 1

I put on my bowler hat and my best tweed jacket
And I go to the lecture hall
I'm a stuffy academic at a conference of professors
And I fully mean to rock them all.

I've the notes for my talk and an abstract to boot
Western Literature's the topic today
As a counterpoint, I draw upon thermodynamic laws
An original perspective, I should say
It's something like

Chorus

Literature and thermodynamics
Reflecting common themes
Thermodynamic history
And literary scenes

Literature and thermodynamics
Despite their different names
From universe's start to end
The song remains the same

Verse 2

The very first of literature concerns creation myths
And I have to say, that stuff is pretty swell
This swellness, if you will, continues through the Metaphysicals
The last to feel a thought and think a feel.

After them, it goes to pot: the Restoration's got no soul
And the Romantics only care about their angst
The Modernists, however, have achieved the perfect balance
'Cause they concentrate on dry, hard thangs.

Bridge

LITERATURE
LITERATURE AND THERMODYNAMICS
LITERATURE AND THERMODYNAMICS
LITERATURE AND THERMODYNAMICS
LITERATURE!

Verse 3

The second thermal law dictates the universal system
Moves toward a state of equilibrium:
Total entropy as heat's dispersed and meets its death
Perfect balance, but for life, a zero-sum

So sometime before apocalypse, we humans can survive
An ideal age, like Modernism now!
But what of after this? The entropy of literature?
What form will future writing take, and how?