Science: Velocity and the Periodic Table of Elements

Greetings, Science Fans!

Today we have two very over-contrived but (more or less) scientific poems for your viewing pleasure.  The first, a 5/7/5 Haiku, is all about fruit - and matters germane to it - because the March Challenge has so prompted it, in honor of Johnny Appleseed Day.  The second poem, per the actual science prompt of Big Tent Poetry, is a Ballade, and it covers the topic of one of the most popular elements on the periodic table: ununquadium.

Image courtesy of TheVeganUprising

How Fast Can A Banana Split or a Fruit Fly Fly?

“Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.” ~Groucho Marx

The rate of speed of

fruit flies = bananas

when they do a split.

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Image courtesy of Sonya Philips/Flickr

The Ballade[ium] of Ununquadium

With atomic number of one fourteen

there’s no use outside ‘the scientific.’

It also has zero – and yes, I mean -

zero stable isotopes.  Specific

things like boiling point are vaporific

(also, superheavy.)  Here’s a factoid:

Its name wasn’t really honorific

but this substance keeps scientists employed.

Its density’s unknown, so one can’t glean

that info.  But don’t get tenebrific*:

There have only been a few atoms seen

since production hasn’t been prolific

but neither has it been quite somnific*.

Ocean abundance?  N/A, ergo: void.

Crustal abundance? N/A.  (That’s ific)

but this substance keeps scientists employed.

I chose this topic ‘cause it’s not routine.

I’m no expert: I can’t be motific*.

Radioactivity’s not my scene  -

I just tried to be a bit lucific

re this element that’s so finific,

even if oxidation state’s devoid

or rather, unknown, to be specific;

still, this substance keeps scientists employed.

Ununquadium’s really pulsific*!

And with that I’ll add, I hope you enjoyed

my talk.  Hope it wasn’t soporific

since this substance keeps scientists employed.

*Vaporific - producing steam

Tenebrific – dark and gloomy

Somnific – sleep inducing

Iffic – iffy-ish.

Motific - a unifying idea that is a recurrent element in a literary or artistic work

Lucific – to bring light

Finific - A limiting element or quality

Pulsific - Makes one’s pulse race

Soporific - monotonous

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