Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Science

“Faith” is fine invention (202)

                                           BY EMILY DICKINSON
“Faith” is a fine invention
For Gentlemen who see!
But Microscopes are prudent
In an Emergency!



Midweek Motif ~ Science


Time to write to things Scientific and observable in Labs.   
Let us see what science can do.
Between 4 lines and 14 ~ Form is up to you.  


Inspiration:     Warning!  As a Romantic, Poe was not a fan of science.

SonnetTo Science

                                      BY EDGAR ALLAN POE
Science! true daughter of Old Time thou art!
   Who alterest all things with thy peering eyes.
Why preyest thou thus upon the poet’s heart,
   Vulture, whose wings are dull realities?
How should he love thee? or how deem thee wise,
   Who wouldst not leave him in his wandering
To seek for treasure in the jewelled skies,
   Albeit he soared with an undaunted wing?
Hast thou not dragged Diana from her car,
   And driven the Hamadryad from the wood
To seek a shelter in some happier star?
   Hast thou not torn the Naiad from her flood,
The Elfin from the green grass, and from me
The summer dream beneath the tamarind tree?


Sonnet Parody of Poe’s “To Science”        
With gratitude for Poe’s vision and visions
By Susan Chast

Science!  True Sister of Poetry thou art!
You nurture all being by opening eyes!
And compliment modern poets’ hearts,
White dove, whose wings are open files!
Why should they hate thee? Or how deem thee weird,
Who wouldst aid them in their questing
Throughout and beyond  planets’ atmospheres?
How could they deny using thy virtual wings?
Hast thou not lifted God into place?
And driven out the Devil from the deep earth
So that inquiry and simile meet face to face?
Hast thou not found atoms in what was a dearth
Of matter, power in what was mere sun, and to me
Given insight into how conflicts mock liberties?


~

Please:  
1.      Post your science  poem of 4 ~ 14 lines on your site, and then link it here.
2.      Share only original and new work written for this challenge. 
3.      Leave a comment here.
4.      Honor our community by visiting and commenting on others' poems.

(The next Midweek Motif is Mayday Eve or Walpurgisnacht.)

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32 comments:

  1. Good Morning, Poets United! I am happy to be here today in more ways than I can say.
    Today is Day 23 for those taking the April Poetry Challenge, and another day to write a new poem for those that are not. How has science touched your life?

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    Replies
    1. Oh! If you have favorite poems about science besides Poe's above, please leave me a title or link in these comments. Thank you.

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  2. Doesn't fit the line count I know - but science isn't always exact!

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    1. LOL! But this humorous note does not prepare me for the tone and truth of your poem. Whew!

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  3. 14 lines max :
    Hope you won't lower the margin or I'll be in trouble :-)
    I reckon I've got it all in there: the wings, undaunted, but tainted. We are on opposite sides today :-). Well, sort of.

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  4. Forgot to say thanks for another gem. Takes 20 hours out of my life, mind. Just as well you give us a whole week.

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  5. Ironic b/c my youngest is taking the Science STAAR (achievement test) today.

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  6. Oops! I forgot about the line count so went back and made longer lines:) Still hobbled by Not Feeling Well, so everything I write - and think - is utterly uninspired. But I sure am enjoying reading everyone else's responses.

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    Replies
    1. Sherry, if science has no answers for you, what of Valerian and an herbal stew?
      I enjoyed your poem very much.

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  7. This one gave me headache while I was humming....and more than 14 lines...hope it will work..Thanks for fun theme, Susan :)

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  8. Thank you Susan for a wonderful prompt....so glad I stumbled upon it through Sherry's blog. :-)

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  9. Mine is up at: http://purplepeninportland.wordpress.com/study-of-science/

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  10. This was a lovely challenge, and it gave me the opportunity to try my hand at something new (what with the line count and all that). Thank you Susan for your inspiration.

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  11. I am so sorry Susan, I totally forgot about the line count and posted mine...now I see everyone's speaking about 14 lines :(

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    Replies
    1. (I pretended it was half the length by doubling lines--what a fine poem.)

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  12. ugh...i pressed the publish button before completing my words...greatly excited to see this interesting prompt....

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    Replies
    1. Thanks! I hope you return to put "Science" in the Linky so others can see it.

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  13. I LOVE your poems! So diverse! Keep them coming, Poets.

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  14. Susan thanks for sharing the Poe Sonnet and for your's!
    Another great prompt. Sorry I am late. spent the day with one of my children yesterday.

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  15. Interesting prompt - I probably took it a little vaguely.. went back to my college years.. ;)

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    1. Oh boy, I just read the comments - I also completely forgot about the 14 line rule!! :0

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    2. Accepted! For the fire in your hands.

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  16. Oops...I did not read the instructions because there are not usually any...and have well exceeded the 14 lines...Apologies !

    I found the prompt subject refreshingly provocative and it came as a welcome relief from towing the politically correct lines where subjects like religion sex and politics are not open for expression or discussion. Thank you !

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    Replies
    1. You didn't catch the "rule" and I didn't catch your references--so, hey! We both get stretched here. Thank you for taking the prompt and running with it!

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