ach-two-oh chemistry

Three Phases of Water


Remember what’s in chem notes? So
di-hydrogen oxide, ach-two-oh—
round O smiley with H-ears in place
doodled up like a Mickey Mouse face
is the object of this formulaic chase?
All round the world, water molecules
on the move, following physical rules:
Sometimes liquid in clouds or lakes,
when overheated . . . it evaporates,
and becomes part of the atmosphere.
Moves with the wind from there to here.
Getting re-recognized is not that difficult
It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity’s fault.
Though it can’t be seen until it’s forgone
the heat it stored, paints the horizon,
takes away the violet and leaves the red,
and gives us warning of a change ahead.
Set to go green; fall into a flower bed.
Amount to something. Become a bloom—
a thing of beauty we might presume,
but there is death in this sacrifice.
A warrior has died. Turned cold as ice.
The body, to sand returns, and the water
will slurry cement to honor the slaughter
with a memorial— one we can leave behind
as a science testament to remind
us how chemistry changed our mind.

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