The Will to Science

[dukealien]

Edit2

  Will, to Science, is a supplicant,
Though oft we hear of Nature bent to will;
Researchers’ theories will the truth they want,
But Nature’s answers may affirm - or kill.

  Some will feign attention, but create,
Instead of listening, what they wish to hear -
Forged confirmations, lest their theories’ fate
Prove ignominious, as they rightly fear.

  Nature can’t be forced: she must be wooed,
Respectfully, nor her consent assumed.
Each theory’s one love-letter: never brood
On its rejection.  Mend, where you presumed!

    But oh, the joy of Nature’s earned assent,
    Dissolving dread of disillusionment!

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@ThePen - I've tried to address your critique in this revision (and, in the process, may have fixed some problems pointed out in others').  Partially rewriting the second quatrain has eliminated the problematic "pretend to research" which caused confusion as to its accents because it could be either noun or verb.  (It also uses "will" again, but all at the expense of an archaic "feign" - after "oft," might be overload.)  The other rewrite in that quatrain tries to make the courting metaphor more tenable (forging favorable replies to one's own love-letters is rather demented, but so is  cherry-picking data).

I've left the title as is.  "Will to Science" is no improvement, and a more honest variant ("Will and Science") doesn't seem to grab as well.

Thanks to all who have read and critiqued!

Edit: Oops! I see ThePen is banned... hope I'm allowed to respond to that critique!