Friendly Street Poets

Thinking of the zoologist and artist, Judy Morris,

in her work in charcoal and white pastel

Michael Faraday

invented this cage

173 years ago to protect

his scientific research from

forces beyond his control

I am back with that young man

the son of poor but loving parents

who gave him the basics they could afford

and the spiritual strength to find his way,

to take his chance when it came

ignore the snobbery and derision

of a woman determined to

keep him in his place.

He could wait his turn, work,

rise above black balling

by a jealous scientist

who would keep him down

and when he had the chance

light a candle to curiosity

and share with children

his delight in discovery.

Today he is here

in the loving soft grey depths

of charcoal and white pastel

in the bits and pieces

made by other hands

for the same purpose -–

probing the unknown.

© Erica Jolly

There were 9 poems chosen as finalists by our editors Judy Dally and Louise Mckenna. They were written by the following poets: Margaret Fensom 2 poems; Dawn Colsey 1 poem; Don Lynch 1 poem; Louise McKenna 2 poems & rob walker 3 poems. The November Science Poem of the Month:

Moths and Butterflies is written by rob walker.

He receives $100 cash and his poem will be displayed on the LED sash in front of RiAus building in Exchange Place. So go and take a look at  poetry in motion; and while you’re there pick up an events brochure to see what Science events are happening in Adelaide.

Moths and Butterflies

go about their work

stoically in grey suits

or grimy blue overalls

pollinating flowers

feed birds and frogs

need fur coats for warmth

working the graveyard shift

Butterflies are showy socialites

sipping nectar at

A-list cocktail parties

All show, no substance,

superficial in their beauty

mwah-mwahing insincere air kisses

to the Beautiful Pupae.

Moths are the working class

waiting for the revolution

©Rob Walker

Congratulations to Simon Hanson and Stephen Lawrence winners of the inaugural monthly Science Poetry Competition 2011, run by RiAus and FSP. They were chosen by RiAus staff from 10 finalists selected by FSP editors Judy Dally & Louise McKenna. Both poet winners receive $100 prize money and publication on the RiAus LED display. Here are their poems.

Within

You stand whole and complete

but with a microscope

a single cell I could observe

one of your trillions

if I could shrink

down and around

a spiral of DNA

I could slide

into the chemistry

of your body

stardust they say

a shimmering lattice

of electrical forces

a whirl of particles

pulsing billions of times

every second

and there clothed

in the fabric of the universe

with histories reaching back

to the beginnings of time

from mystery to mystery

into the fathomless deep

there you stand

One with all things

© Simon Hanson

EVERY FEELING

Every feeling

and thought derives from neuro-

chemical events.

A spiritual problem

is a chemical problem.

© Stephen Lawrence