Science or Arts?

The ultimate dilemma—A poem

Science or Arts?

As if I ever had to choose,

Like my life depended on that decision,

But here's the truth—

There is no Science without art,

From the anatomy of my heart,

To the blessing of sight,

They both coexist in broad daylight.

Yet somehow I'm expected to favour one over the other,

Because if I'm 'smart,' I'll memorise texts for the rest of my life,

And if I'm not, I can be creative all I want,

Either save lives or write lives,

Either be practical or be passionate:

I'm stuck between the either-or.

Yet I know there is something bigger inside me that burns to combine the twain,

And that's precisely what I hope to do—

Bridge the difference between these two,

Colour-code my biochemistry notes,

And draw what anxiety feels like,

Turn burnout into poetry that seeps into your soul,

Maybe knit sweaters with the life cycle of a tadpole,

And write songs about the neurological impact of love that consumes you whole.

These patterns, emotions, cognitive bias—they are all a form of Science,

So why am I to treat them like options:

When they're both a part of me?

There is no Science without art;

And Art itself is a science,

So once again, I say—it's not Science or Art,

It's Science and Art,

Just like it always was and always will be till we all transcend time.

~Mortal Morph

Thanks for reading! 🫶

I wish I could just say all this to the next person who asks but in a society where Humanties is seen as a stream for students who aren't “smart,” and anyone who is so-called “smart,” is just expected to pick Science, the ones who are deeply passionate about studying in general and exploring the vast world of Art feel overwhelmed.

The left brain, right brain dominant thing also bothers me because it's assumed that you can only be good at one thing when in reality, you can do whatever you want! (Also that is neuroscientifically incorrect as different parts of our brain does different things—not the hemispheres).

When every person you know is asking you that question like your entire life will derail if you make the wrong decision—perhaps these notes are the only place where we belong. Philosophy—Love for wisdom is all I seek.

I still have a long time before I decide but that’s the point. Even if I make it as a surgeon, the poet inside me won't die. Even if my novel sells hundreds of copies, the hope or saving lives won't ever wither and to this ambition, I’ll hold on because it's mine to keep—not prone to the society’s eyes.