64

It seems to be a simple verse.  And it is. However, it is about ultimate reality, and that is not simple. In fact, it is mystery forever outside of the human mind. Ironically, the mystery is also close at hand. (For Tennyson, in fact, the mystery is in his hand!) But he cannot understand it. No one can though there are different ways we try. One we call reductionism. 

If Tennyson—or anyone—carefully studied the little flower, they would see that it was made up of different parts. If they studied the parts, they would see they were made up of smaller parts; “Root and all” made up of cells, cells made up of molecules, molecules made up of atoms and on and on till the end, the final moment, then—nothing. (That is, if there is such a thing as final.) Along the way, life disappears.

Science is a little cloudy about that final moment before nothing. The final, smallest parts may be there or they may not be there. They might have mass or they might be energy. Depends on whether or not someone is watching. Science, it appears, offers no help to Tennyson. If Tennyson could understand how by adding up a number of almost nothings he would have a live plant, he would be on to something, but he cannot. Nor can anyone else. No one can understand “root and all, and all in all.”