Trial in Error

Or Earth is a maquette,
If the intelligent
Design fanatics must

Be partially correct.
Certainly, it’s a speck,
A spot, a blotch, a bit

Of maculate stainage,
And, if deliberate
As the Lord’s arguers

From incredulity
Insist, then it could be
A model, a mock-up,

Intentional study
For a real world to come,
Abandoned on the shelf

Of one galactic arm,
Toy, part of the clutter
Of the maker’s workshop.

This isn’t life we live,
Any of us, any
Of this proof of concept.

Earth only goes to show
Life could, in principle,
Actually exist.