Chemistry "But what is chemistry about?'' you ask. I am struck dumb, then, robotAke, repeat, "It is that branch of science which most treats Of matter and its properties and its Recombinations." The while, my mind is filled With myriad images. I see a lone Old dohemist intently stirring fire, And wish that I could tell him that His search was not all vain. He taught Us much of properties, techniques; and we Can make his gold, though it is dross beside The knowledge represented, and the cost. Berzelius zib and oalculates his weightsFrom crude eauioment. rtccurate results.
And writes about a new gas and a mouse. Lavoisier delineates the path For his successors-none stand tall as he. I see a shelf of flasks more graceful than A Grecian urn, their beauty chance result
The krownian motion i n d a perfect gas. I see young Kckule's entwined snakes, And note the glowing color in my dress. I see the periodic chart, whole books Of knowledge coded on a single sheet. And there is Newton's spectrum, new refined. Its lines bespeak of what the universe I n made, of what, an atom; where a star Is going; and what's in a, hunk of rook. Light. Light's the thing: the light from Bunsen flame, The light of resonating molecules, Electrons' motion, light behind a dial, The glow of lonely intellect, of free Imagination, and restless will to know. Since chemistry's a serial story, lad, Its brightest light lies in your starlit eyes Lou BETANTK U ~ T Z Tuwon, A~izona
Volume 36, Number 4, April 1959
/
18 1
