For Big Tent Poetry Prompt: Science
http://bigtentpoetry.org
Science of Poem
View collected specimens of words,
carefully choosing those placed
on Petri dish of imagination.
Slipped beneath viewing lens,
microscopic eye of conscious
knowing.
Seek certain formations,
patterns of color and meaning,
weighing each one in light
of effect on whole concept
of what might be said.
Carefully tweeze one or two
into fertilizing position,
then swirl, whirling together
in gyroscope of past experience.
Labled, dated, words rest
for a time in warm bath
and heated light of scrutiny.
Periodically checked again
for signs of life.
Elizabeth Crawford 3/11/11
Notes: When I saw the prompt, I turned away. Have never been interested in details of science and actually have a mental block where it is concerned. But, awoke with a few scientific words dancing through my thoughts and decided to put them under the microscope of my pen. Warning: this is only an experiment.
Soul's Music 
Petridish of Imagination….
You did me in!
dissolved
Lol, Gautami, glad to hear that. I am so not scientific,
Elizabeth
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I so love this one: the petri dish, the microscopic eye of knowing, the tweezing and the heated light of scrutiny. This is just wonderful! so clever! And lovve your warning: this is only an experiment. Oh you are cookin’ this morning, Ms Elizabeth!!!!!!
Sherry, lol, I might have been cooking, but it felt a bit like one of those “Mom surprises” my kids would call some dinner experiment I had invented with odds and ends before going shopping. Some of them actually worked on occasion. Thanks sister,
Elizabeth
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Very nice, would have never been able to tell that you were not a student of the sciences!
Honeyhaiku, I used to have a friend who had a PHD in Chemistry. He taught it in the high school my daughter attended and also wrote some of the most amazing poetry. Occasionally I could even somewhat follow his explanations of how things work. Not often mind you, but just enough to let me know how far removed I was from his world. Thanks for taking part in my experiment,
Elizabeth
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smart one..
I am glad to see different take on the same subject.
😉
Thank you Jingle, one of the basic reasons I utterly enjoy the prompt circuit. It is a smorgasboard of inspiration on such a wide variety of levels.
Elizabeth
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You combined so much of science in this. nice one.
Thank you Anthony. With only a high school sophomore’s year of dread in Biology class, and one forced semester in college for a BOK class, I didn’t have a lot of hope for this experiment. There is a great deal to be said for attempting to stretch ones wings. However, I doubt I would attempt this prompt more than once. Whew!
Elizabeth
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Well, Elizabeth, for someone who doesn’t like science.
You have managed to intermingle scientific terms with
your words beautifully.
Pamela
Lol, Pamela, it’s far more than a simple dislike. I meant it when I said I have a mental block. I put off the prerequisite of one semester science course in college until my final year, and that was the lowest grade I received throughout those years. I’m just glad I passed. Thanks for the compliment though,
Elizabeth
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how clever is this…just really enjoyed it thank you…..Eliza Keating
And thank you for visiting and reading Eliza. Not so sure it’s cleverness, more a language addict’s marginal list of possibilities, lol.
Elizabeth
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It’s an experiment that bore fruit, it seems. I love the metaphor here… writing as a genesis of life, we hope. We try and when it works it’s wonderful. When it doesn’t we learn. Well done.
James thank you for saying that, “writing as a genesis of life.” Such an elegant way of saying, “Aren’t you the lucky one?” But you are so right, it is all a learning process and some days we get to stand still and say, “Wow! I got it. I actually understand.”
Elizabeth
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You’ve appropriated the lexicon of science well. “petri dish of imagination” is wonderful. And that warning: this is only an experiment. 🙂
Irene, honest it was only an experiment. I had fun doing it, but wondered if I’d actually made any sense at all. Thanks for stopping in,
Elizabeth
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Nice experiment…a successful one too. Loved the last line. Vb
Welcome versebender, really liked what you did with the prompt, as well. Thanks for dropping in,
Elizabeth
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If you’re not careful, they’ll procreate out of control. You’ll be finding poems turning up everywhere. 😉 Last couplet: priceless.
Oh Wonderful Joseph, a hard core poet’s dream come true, lol. Thank you for the most amazing imagery and good belly laugh I’ve had in a long time. I solemnly promise to carefully watch where I’m stepping from now on. Delightful.
Elizabeth
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Elizabeth, I do love your kind of science. Science of Poem! It is the kind I can sink my teeth into. In contrast, all I need to know about electricity is….I flip the switch and the light goes on. LOL.
Mary, I do understand. One of the bulbs burned out in my bedside lamp. I waited an entire day and night, hoping my daughter would magically turn up and help me. She didn’t. So, I had to psyche myself up to change the bulb on my own. Scary, lol. Thanks for joining in the fun,
Elizabeth
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Very clever. It reminds me of someone who writes a wonderful poem about Writer’s Block.
Donna, I have done that many times and amazingly enough it puts the lie to that whole idea of Writer’s Block. Uh Oh, I may have tripped myself up here, in some fashion. Anyway, thanks for dropping in and reading,
Elizabeth
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Your experiment has succeded spectacularly. This one’s another Elizabeth special, a keeper.
Thank you Viv, glad you think so.
Elizabeth
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PS I shall appropriate your creative word “tweeze”
Lol, you are more than welcome, Viv.
Elizabeth
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Your experiment worked wonderfully! Thank you for playing along. 🙂
Deb, I really wasn’t going to, and you’d think I would learn that when my reaction is that strong, something else is coming. One of the reasons, I love the prompt circuit so much. Thanks for these wonderfu and often stretching beyond the box prompts,
Elizabeth
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I see big signs of life in this piece – a fine read!
Thank you Tumblewords, glad you enjoyed.
Elizabeth
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well i think you prove that poetry is a science now. excellent job!
Cathy, used to have a friend who had a PHD in Chemistry, but also wrote poetry. He often said the same thing, but I never truly understood. Thanks for your generous words,
Elizabeth
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Brilliant Elizabeth! I loved it. 🙂
Glad to hear that, Susannah. I’m really behind tonight and it doesn’t look good for tomorrow. I need some magic instead of science,
Elizabeth
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Oh, I do love this analogy… beautiful!
So good to hear, Laurie. I really had some misgivings about this one,
Elizabeth
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You boiled that down to a beautiful poem. Really enjoyable.
Thank you much Mike. It’s not too difficult to boil it down when you have so few ingredients, lol.
Elizabeth
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