How do we take measure of reality?

Compare known to unknown quantity,

Record in standard units of consensus,

So all agree what common sense is.

First thing to note, as a common term,

Idealistic standard unit’s not exactly firm.

An absolute inch we cannot measure,

However much it would give pleasure.

We speak here of the idealized size

Bureau Of Standards keeps. Very wise.

Inch is an inch, more or less, a range

Of values, average doesn’t change,

But value’s within tolerance stated,

For small variance we’re elated,

Any value possible within range

Is inch standard, won’t change.

What of inches on steel tapes painted?

Are they within range BOS has sainted?

No, assembly line tolerances even wider,

Add range of error as manufacturing rider.

Is inch finally defined as to error range?

Steel expands, contracts as temps change,

An operator error can dwarf all mentioned,

Or record in error, even well intentioned.

So we have an inch. Can we measure?

What tolerance level is your pleasure?

Build a picnic table at which to sit,

Inexpensive steel tape does its bit,

But for high-rise best laser precision,

And quite happy with wise decision.

The point is, our measuring ability

Depends on accuracy acceptability.

  Accuracy varies with practical need,

And greater is a more expensive deed.

Even Global Positioning Satellite clock,

Measures echo times with precision lock

Less than perfect, else “within ten feet,”

Would be, “circle, absolute center.” Neat!

Measuring reality, can identify no absolute,

But absolute exists, of this we’re resolute,

We just can’t measure it and be exact,

So we fuzz measures, keep sanity intact.

Some methods of measuring tolerate more

Than if we used tools to determine score,

Estimating is quicker, gives a “ball park,”

Looser idea of reality than “on the mark.”

Speculation, educated guessing’s quite loose,

Yet experience gives accuracy factor a boost.

Method may give city quadrant of “ballpark,”

But purely guessing is “stabbing in the dark.”

Unexpected activities measure the real.

For most, reading seems to be “feel,”

In truth, it gauges contrasted lights, darks,

Patterns on medium designed for marks.

Pattern recognition, in its many forms,

Measures unknown vs. known image norms.

Margin of error narrows in use each day

But never to zero measuring this way.

Writing has pattern recognition also,

Holds desired images to patterns we know,

And toward desired ideas we’d impart,

Also measures keyboard as fingers dart.

Algebra and calculus, arithmetic we measure

Formulaic relationships yield numeric treasure,

To talk, we measure word, phrase meanings,

Speech modulation against auditory gleanings.

Everyone knows cooks measure recipes,

In eating one gauges food servings, please,

And also distance from plate to mouth,

Cooking method origin, North or South.

Operating vehicle, on water, land or space,

Requires constant measuring for the race,

In walking or running we gauge our stride,

Energy remaining, even street, how wide.

Even dreaming, we measure as if awake,

It’s our subconscious calculations we take.

Much of our measuring activities are done

With subconscious. Chewing gum is one.

We measure the gap from tongue to teeth closing,

If accuracy suffers, teeth on tongue, rather imposing.

Margin of error measuring physical things,

Doesn’t allow veering too widely our swings,

Before reigning in, punishing quite severely,

Gum chewer biting tongue is a lesson clearly.

So all this measuring we do, often without thought,

It’s our relationship to reality, continuously sought.

Think about it: measuring is the major essence,

If not entire whole, of our physical existence.

All above pertains to physical world,

What of the metaphysical that minds unfurl?

How do we measure supernatural might?

Or spirit world, assumed lurking at night?

First thing to note: it’s all in mental space.

Ghosts, goblins, gods, supernatural, face

Us from within, not physical point of view,

Measuring ether occurs in a mental stew.

Reason measures with logic’s might,

Ethereal anchor for imagination’s flight

And defines acceptable error margin,

But some folk beyond it go chargin’.

Needless to say, actual margins are great,

There’s no feedback from reality’s state.

So they are as wide as folks will take,

And many the idea that sellers half-bake.

Offerings range from some with elements of truth

To some others built on hoaxes, nail and tooth.

Physical truth not automatically reigning excess,

The sky is the limit and even good folks obsess.

One needs to be careful in the metaphysical realm,

To measure as always, with logical anchor at helm,

Lest we go off on a tangent with no gravity at hand,

And find ourselves drifting in never-never land!

Now, we’ve measured reality from stem to stern,

Even measure of metaphysical tried to discern,

We’ve gauged the world in most every way,

Except this poem: About what I wanted to say,

And barely within the verbiage margin of error,

So I must cease measuring and post this terror.