Poems, Chiefly Scientific

1. To Settle As Chalk

Blankness and thickness

Took a walk;

And while walking decided

To settle as chalk.

 

2. Anti-Climax

Paper and Ruth

Are in America.

Ruth can say, Ha! —

Near the paper.

 

3. Seem to Do Most

Thumb on paper

Is something felt.

Thumb and you

Seem to do most of it.

 

4. Our Struggle for Independence

Under the cover

Was George Washington.

He was on a horse

The next day about noon.

This is part

Of our Struggle for Independence.

 

5. A Vertebra

As you say, Ha-ha,

It affects a vertebra.

 

6. Latin: An Annotation

Ella took her time

Studying Latin.

Latin had taken its time

Reaching her.

 

7. Thank You, Company

In reality we are in Company. —

Say, Thank you, Company!

 

8. Nothing but Birds?

Those are birds flying.

Don’t they look swell?

Nothing but birds?

— Don’t be unfair.

 

9. 16

As we meditate

On 8,

16 gets restless.

 

10. Filled the Desert: A Poem

A unit, a unit,

A prim and darling unit

Filled the desert.

 

11. A Cover of an Ashcan Talks

I am the cover of an ashcan.

I am thrown aside often.

But I come back.

I should be praised.

This is a cover of an ashcan talking.

 

12. Purpose of a Grasshopper

A grasshopper

Is a disguise of God,

Whose purpose it is

To make perhaps weary sod

Brisker.

 

13. The Wistful Microscopist

A trained microscopist

Can now and then be wist-

Ful.

 

14. Drops of Blood, Platelets, Cells: Platelets Do Their Best

These drops of blood

Have little platelets

Which do their best

To take their place

In the great world of science,

Which cells only recently

Distinguished; and became so much of.