Elemental Haiku

By Mary Soon LeeAug. 4, 2017

A review of the Periodic Table composed of 119 science haiku, one for each element, plus a closing haiku for element 119 (not yet synthesized). The haiku encompass astronomy, biology, chemistry, history, physics, and a bit of whimsical flair. Click or hover over an element on the Periodic Table to read the haiku.

This is a fascinating approach to the haiku form, coupling it with the elements of the Periodic Table .

A few of my favourites:

Ag - Silver

Treacherous treasure,
avarice tarnishing us,
photos claiming souls.


Co - Cobalt

Traded from Persia
a blue more precious than gold
for a Chinese vase.

Mg - Magnesium

Child of aging stars
however brightly you burn
They will not return.

What are some that appeal to you?

Do you have any of your own to add?

I feel ya. Our autumn seems to be somewhat on hold, too; trees are changing colour, true, but the weather just isn't autumnal at all. It's supposed to pretty much skip autumn this year and go straight to winter. No thanks! Winter used to be my favourite season, but recently I've started appreciating the melancholic beauty of autumn. I like the transition and the fact that in autumn, my sinuses don't bother me as much as summer or winter. Damn, I don't half ramble.

You nailed it, Andrew, autumn has a melancholy beauty, and with the cooler temps and changing light levels, usually feels like the beginning of a new year. It is usually an inspiration to undertake new works. For photography, it can be such a wonderful time of year. I guess this is just goong to be an off year in that respect.

Oh and allergies, those usually abate by now, but instead they are as bad as the spring right now.

Usually, autumn is my favourite, but this year, it isn't, because it isn't showing up yet. Months of drought and a seemingly endless heat wave have still not abated.

Autumn, where are you? <img src="/images/emoticons/help.gif" alt="help">

http://upload.storiesspace.com/714668065-7E1621E8-8BDC-499D-90A8-B4DD03987AF7.jpeg

The clock is ticking! One week left to enter our Stories Space Dirty Martini 420 Competition!

Details here: https://www.storiesspace.com/competitions/stories-space-dirty-martini-420.aspx


Great graphic!

Remind me, please, the deadline is the 8th. Does that mean when the 7th ticks over to the 8th? Seems to me that is it but I can never recall.

After nine days, there are 20 stories entered in the competition, and the quality of them is stellar, in my opinion.

Nine more days to go, if I can count correctly... so there's still time for another 20 stories to be written and entered.

just sayin'...

<img src="/images/emoticons/hello.gif" alt="hello2">

ESTIMATION

Stem, Mat, Eon, Ion, Inate

Mast, Mist, Time, Emit, Meat

Steam, Moist

RHINOCEROS

I believe the competition is to honour our friend Dirty Martini even in (tongue in cheek) comment of your 420 stories/poems here LarryF.

Exaktly

Ok ..call me stoopid ..but I have lost the plot of this thread now <img src="/images/emoticons/eusa_doh.gif" alt="d&#39;oh!">


Dribble - Bridle


No, you are far from stupid, but very clever use of the rules to change stupid to stoopid, well done! <img src="/images/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="icon_biggrin">

Here, this makes as much sense as anything does in this thing:

Cripes, Andrew! Deceptively simple doesn't even start to describe it, you cheeky ******* (affectionate term that sounds like "harsted" but deleted because you know I love you).

Begin ---> Reign

Does this work and fall under the terms of the game? I changed one letter, switched out the order - that means a letter was left out AND one added.

I'm not sure I'm getting this right, mate. <img src="/images/emoticons/eusa_doh.gif" alt="d&#39;oh!">

Nope, I totally got it wrong.

Add a letter, or subtract a letter, and mess up the order of same.

So an acceptable word would be of six or four letters for the first response. Right?

<img src="/images/emoticons/help.gif" alt="help">





So, however you do it, the gist is basically to make an anagram with an extra letter in the word, or a letter taken away from the word. You can anagram then add/subtract, or subtract/add then anagram, whichever works, really.

Oops, gusss I should play, too!

Ingrown > Rowing.

The previous post to yours was way totally completely OFF the grid . Should have been disqualified as she went from a 4 letter word to one with 7.

These things drive me bonkers, I try to keep to the rules as stated and instead it's like a slippery slope with black ice and an oil spill and no brakes on the car.

So leaving aside the perfectly legitimate charge of poor and pathetic metaphors, what now, in this series? Back up to before the infraction, or...
Give this thing a new lease on life, using the word...

Stupid

And henceforth, wel try and follow the rules, right?

<img src="/images/emoticons/hello.gif" alt="hello2">

War - Drab

Btw, I'm trying to figure out why it shows you as having -4 forum posts. How is that even possible? <img src="/images/emoticons/icon_scratch.gif" alt="scratch">

My second sense tells me that it is sort of a Twilight Zone sort of thing, or whatever.

just sayin'... <img src="/images/emoticons/hiding.gif" alt="hiding">

  Dear Alan, It's been a while since I wrote to you. Did you know there's a story competition in your name? I had an idea for it, started to write something. It was clever, funny, titled Jankowski's Lost'n'Found . The story got lost, but it goes something like this: Jankowski and Al were old friends, co-owners of a cab they took turns driving. They had a flat rate, 4.20, due to the...

Added 28 Sep 2018 | Category Flash Fiction | Votes 19 | Avg Score 4.95 | Views 206 | 18 Comments

Come with me, come here, We'll fly away soon, Give me your hand, And a hug Then settle on my rug Hang on tight, tuck arms and legs in, Are you ready to take off? Let's go for a spin! The altitude's no problem, We've plenty of air, As you will soon know by the wind in your hair. We'll swoop and soar Above earth and its cares - - Tedious, boring, Gloomy and drear! - Before landing quite...

Added 05 Sep 2016 | Category Songs | Votes 9 | Avg Score 5 | Views 665 | 9 Comments

Random rhymes: punchy, munchy scrunchy, bouncy, jiggly, hunchy, Loosely, widely, funky, Stinking, rotten, clunky * Save it. Saved. Is it any good? Unlikely, so... Don't get your hopes up - The answer is no * Not much is likely to be salvational - side note, is that even a word? - side reply, It is now, get used to it. * So... Continue as before With doggerel words ...

Added 29 Sep 2018 | Category Poetry | Votes 4 | Avg Score 5 | Views 133 | 4 Comments

“You don’t have to do this, you know. In fact, you shouldn’t be doing it.” “Yes, I know, but it’s all right, I’m going to do it.” “I really don’t think you should, and would prefer you didn’t.” “I’m still going to do it, it’s the least I can do for you. You shouldered me as a burden often enough, in the past.” “That was different, you weren’t old enough or big enough, and needed to...

Added 22 Jul 2016 | Category Flash Fiction | Votes 5 | Avg Score 5 | Views 494 | 4 Comments

Chances, Taken without regret, Embraced, Without hesitation or doubt Like that time When you dove Into an ice cold lake Not on a dare But because it was there And to do so affirmed that you existed Those chances, No regrets, As you sank Stunned with shock by the bone chilling reality of the water - So cold So clear So intransigent yet so welcoming, Heart pounding, Adrenalin coursing,...

Added 30 Jun 2016 | Category Poetry | Votes 6 | Avg Score 5 | Views 569 | 4 Comments

I make my point by tossing him out a window, He'd been warned when he entered the room, "You found your way in, you can find it back out, And if it isn't done quickly, From me you'll get a good clout." I repeated my warning twice over, Was he hard of hearing or just buzzing about? At any rate my threat was put into action, With a fly swatter I rubbed his life out. * Author's note: I have...

Added 23 Jun 2016 | Category Poetry | Votes 6 | Avg Score 5 | Views 397 | 6 Comments

So here I am waiting, And biding my time, For a shipment that was Ordered From a store that's on-line. Their products are alluring, Like snacks to consume, The virtual basket's expanding There is always more room For specialty items, Things new to the store, Best deals of the day, And more, so much more! I wasn't enticed - Well, maybe some of the time - But the items I needed Remained...

Added 15 Jun 2016 | Category Poetry | Votes 7 | Avg Score 5 | Views 417 | 7 Comments

Look by the door, A row of hooks Hung with keys - Basement, attic, car All are useful If you please But one sits alone No door does it claim That door is long gone And all that remains Is the key That unlocked its dreams....

Added 09 May 2016 | Category Poetry | Votes 7 | Avg Score 5 | Views 620 | 5 Comments

International Women's Day A day that means a great deal to me. It leaves me serious, reflective, thinking about the women who have influenced and formed me, those I know, those I have never met. Among those I know, my mother, grandmothers, and their lives - It is not for me to speak in their names, I can only be witness to who they were, Honour them, Acknowledge them, Carry...

Added 08 Mar 2016 | Category Poetry | Votes 10 | Avg Score 5 | Views 454 | 6 Comments

Preamble - friends of mine have a lovely and lovingly cared for vintage car, a Ford Gran Torino. It's taken out by them on special occasions, but for a recent such event, the Torino was left at home, as there was no secure parking available at the venue they attended. Instead, they drove a large vehicle of recent make. This inspired the following: The Torino’s Lament or: ...

Added 25 Jun 2015 | Category Poetry | Votes 9 | Avg Score 5 | Views 668 | 6 Comments

  MARTIN HANDED A MUG of fresh coffee to Jane and slid into the seat opposite her at the breakfast table, pausing a moment before he spoke. “Jane, I need to ask you something.” Caught off guard by the statement, she slopped a little of the steaming liquid. “You always do that when I’m holding a drink,” she chided gently, dabbing the spill with a napkin. Her lighthearted tone belied...

Added 13 Sep 2018 | Category General | Votes 11 | Avg Score 5 | Views 145 | 6 Comments

  THE CALENDAR TAUNTED JANE, its little yellow-highlighted square outlined in a bold red stroke mocking her lack of progress. ‘You’re going to miss the deadline, you know. I’m just six weeks away now,’ it scoffed. ‘Whatever made you apply for that fellowship anyhow, and what could the panel have been thinking when they gave it to you? You’re no writer; you’ve proven that over the past...

Added 12 Sep 2018 | Category General | Votes 11 | Avg Score 5 | Views 209 | 6 Comments