Frederick Turner and Infinite Nothing

     When Frederick Turner drew in class the diagram of All (the known world) and Nothing (the unknown) he drew from the cusp of the All circle a figure eight that circled back into All and out into Nothing. This served to represent the journey of the poet who is blazing a trail into the world of "airy nothings," but needs still to remain in "local habitation." He pointed out as he drew it, "It's a sort of figure eight movement." What he did not point out (but I assume he noticed) is that this shape represents infinity. I thought that was most interesting. It seems, eventually, that science must end; one day, it should strictly define all the known world, right? Isn't that the point? Turner said, "The poet goes to the edge of the world to understand 'nothing.'" The poet infinitely pushes to the edge of definitive-ness and defines even more. The poet's journey is infinite. Turner drew this without even initially realizing it's true importance for me, and again, I thank him for his contribution.